Disc cartridge container and apparatus having a plurality of cartridges arranged for simultaneous shutter opening closing

ABSTRACT

A disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus in which a cartridge container has a number of disc cartridges loaded internal sections without stacking of the disc cartridges by arraying the disc cartridges in one plane in a matrix configuration includes a rotation supporting substrate supporting a driving part supporting substrate carrying a disc rotation driving mechanism and an optical pickup approached to and separated from the disc cartridge, a stationary part support substrate rotatably supporting the rotation supporting substrate, a rotation driving mechanism for rotating the rotation supporting mechanism, and a driving part supporting substrate lift mechanism for bringing the disc rotation driving mechanism and the optical pickup towards the disc cartridge or separating them away from the disc cartridge. Plural discs may be sequentially reproduced without displacing the disc cartridge by rotationally driving the rotating supporting substrate and bringing the disc rotationally driving mechanism and the optical pickup towards the disc cartridge or separating them away from the disc cartridge.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a disc cartridge container for containing andholding a matrix array of a plurality of disc cartridges each housing adisc on which information signals such as music signals are recorded orare to be recorded, and to a disc recording and/or reproducing apparatusfor selecting one of the plural disc cartridges contained and heldwithin the disc cartridge container and recording/reproducing theinformation signals on or from the disc contained in the selected disccartridge, or sequentially recording/reproducing the information signalson or from the discs contained in the disc cartridges.

BACKGROUND ART

There has hitherto been employed a disc recording and/or reproducingapparatus having a disc exchange function of selecting one of disccartridges previously stored in a disc container and of reproducinginformation signals, such as music signals, recorded on a disc containedin each disc cartridge, or recording information signals on the disc.

With such disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus, the disccartridges are contained in the cartridge container so that the majorsurfaces of the disc contained in the disc cartridges face each other,that is, plural disc cartridges in the form of thin plates are stackedvertically.

By stacking the disc cartridges and containing them in this state in thecartridge container, plural disc cartridges may be efficiently containedin a smaller space.

However, for recording and/or replay of the information signals, itbecomes necessary to provide a disc exchange mechanism for pulling outthe disc cartridge from the cartridge container and transferring thedisc cartridge to a disc recording and/or reproducing section forloading thereon. Besides, with a disc recording and/or reproducingapparatus, having such disc exchange function, it is necessary toprovide a mechanism whereby the disc cartridge pulled out from thecartridge container may be loaded on a disc driving unit provided with adisc rotation driving mechanism and/or information signal recordingand/or reproducing means. The result is the increased size andcomplicated mechanism of the disc recording and/or reproducingapparatus.

On the other hand, with the disc container having cartridge containersections for holding plural disc cartridges in a stacked state, it isnot possible to check the indication of the recording contents of thedisc contained in the disc cartridge on a label affixed on the surfaceof the disc cartridge.

Besides, with the cartridge container containing plural disc cartridgesin a stacked state, since the cartridge inserting/detachment openinghaving a width corresponding to the thickness of the disc cartridge isarrayed so as to be sequentially stacked in one plane, it becomesextremely difficult to introduce or detach the disc cartridges. That is,it becomes extremely difficult to have the desired disc cartridgescontained correctly in the pre-set cartridge container.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a disccartridge container in which plural disc cartridges may be arrayed sothat the major surfaces of the discs contained in the cartridge mainmembers are in one and the same plane so that the plural disc cartridgesmay be correctly contained without stacking vertically.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a disccartridge container in which indication means for indicating therecorded contents or the like provided on the surface of the disccartridge may be seen through from outside.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a disccartridge container in which a shutter member provided on the disccartridge is adapted to be opened and closed after the disc cartridge iscontained in a cartridge container for assuring positive protection ofthe disc contained in the disc cartridge.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a disccartridge container and a recording and/or reproducing apparatusemploying such disc cartridge container, in which the shutter memberprovided on the disc cartridge contained in the disc cartridge containersection is adapted to be opened and closed in association with theinsertion and detachment into and out of the disc recording and/orreproducing apparatus for realizing positive protection of the disccontained in the disc cartridge and positive opening and closure of theshutter member.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a recordingand/or reproducing apparatus on which is loaded a disc cartridgecontainer capable of containing plural disc cartridges in one planewithout stacking and in which information signals may be sequentiallyrecorded on or reproduced from the disc contained in the loaded disccartridge container using one and the same recording/replay means.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a recordingand/or reproducing apparatus in which, by employing a disc cartridgecontainer in which plural disc cartridges may be arranged in one planewithout stacking, the mechanism of the disc recording and/or reproducingapparatus may be simplified and reduced in size and thickness.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a recordingand/or reproducing apparatus in which the type of the disc accommodatedin the disc cartridge may be discriminated in the course of the movementof the driving part support substrate carrying the disc rotation drivingmechanism and information signal recording and/or reproducing meanstowards the disc contained in the disc cartridge for enabling thesetting of the operating modes for the recording and/or reproductionassociated with the type of disc loaded on the disc rotationally drivingmechanism.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a recordingand/or reproducing apparatus in which the disc rotation drivingmechanism and information signal recording and/or reproducing means whenshifted to the position of recording information signals on the disc orof reproducing the signals from the disc may be positively maintained inthe shifted position to enable recording/replay of the informationsignals in a stabilized state.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a recordingand/or reproducing apparatus in which the operation of approaching thedisc rotation driving mechanism and information signal recording and/orreproducing means towards the disc and separating them from the disc andthe operation of holding the disc rotation and driving mechanism and theinformation signal readout means may be performed using a single cam forrealizing a positive operation of a mechanism for shifting andpositioning the disc rotation driving mechanism and information signalrecording and/or reproducing means and simplifying the mechanism in itsentirety.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a recordingand/or reproducing apparatus in which a flexible wiring board forelectrical interconnection between an electronic circuit provided on therotatable supporting substrate carrying the disc rotation drivingmechanism and information signal recording and/or reproducing means andan electronic circuit provided on a stationary supporting substrate forrotatably carrying the rotatable supporting substrate may be protectedand stabilized rotation of the rotation supporting substrate may beassured.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a cartridge container having pluralcartridge container sections each containing a disc cartridge consistingof a disc and a cartridge main member containing the disc. The cartridgecontainer sections are arranged so that the disc cartridges are arrayedwith their planar sides facing the major surfaces of the discs lying inone and the same plane.

The cartridge container includes shutter opening/closing apparatus foropening and closing a shutter member mounted on each disc cartridge,which shutter member is adapted for opening and closing arecording/reproducing aperture provided in the cartridge main member,with the recording/reproducing aperture exposing at least a part of thedisc contained in the cartridge main member, an opening for exposing atleast a recording/reproducing aperture and an aperture and a disc inletopening formed in the cartridge main member, and a cut-out for exposinga positioning pin engagement opening formed in the cartridge main memberto the outside.

The cartridge container includes a window for enabling a portion of thedisc cartridge contained in the cartridge container to be viewed fromoutside.

The disc cartridge container also includes a shutter opening actuatingmember mounted facing the front end face along which the shutter memberof the disc cartridge contained in the cartridge container is moved, ashutter closing actuating member arranged in a side-by-side relationwith respect to the shutter opening actuating member, a rotationactuating plate mounted in association with each cartridge containersection for moving the shutter opening member and the shutter closingmember arranged as a pair, and a rotation actuating gear meshing with agear part formed on the outer periphery of the rotation actuating platefor rotating the rotation actuating plate.

The present invention also provides a disc recording and/or reproducingapparatus including a plurality of cartridge container sections eachcontaining a disc cartridge consisting of a disc and a cartridge mainmember containing the disc. The cartridge container sections arearranged so that the disc cartridges are arrayed with their planar sidesfacing the major surfaces of the discs lying in one and the same plane.The apparatus also includes a shutter opening actuating member mountedfacing the front end face along which the shutter member of the disccartridge contained in the cartridge container is moved, a shutterclosing actuating member arranged in a side-by-side relation withrespect to the shutter opening actuating member, a rotation actuatingplate mounted in association with each cartridge container section formoving the shutter opening member and the shutter closing memberarranged as a pair, and a rotation actuating gear meshing with a gearpart formed on the outer periphery of the rotation actuating plate forrotating the rotation actuating plate, and a disc cartridge containerholder in which the disc cartridge container is inserted and held andwhich is provided with a rack gear meshing with the rotation actuatinggear in association with insertion and detachment of the disc cartridgecontainer. The shutter member provided on the disc cartridge is openedand closed in association with the insertion and detachment of the disccartridge container into the disc cartridge container holder.

The present invention also provides a disc recording and/or reproducingapparatus including a cartridge container having plural cartridgecontainer sections each containing a disc cartridge consisting of a discand a cartridge main member containing the disc. The cartridge containersections are arranged so that the disc cartridges are arrayed with theirplanar sides facing the major surfaces of the discs lying in one and thesame plane. The apparatus also includes a rotation supporting substratesupporting a driving part support substrate carrying at least a discrotation driving mechanism and the information signal recording and/orreproducing unit adapted for being approached to and separated from thedisc cartridge contained in each cartridge container section of the disccartridge container, a stationary part supporting substrate rotatablysupporting the rotation supporting substrate, rotation driving apparatusrotationally driving the rotation supporting substrate for moving thedisc rotation driving mechanism and the information signal recordingand/or reproducing unit loaded on the driving part supporting substrateto a position facing one of the disc cartridges contained in thecartridge container sections of the disc cartridge container, and adriving part supporting substrate lift mechanism for lifting the drivingpart supporting substrate for approaching the disc rotation drivingmechanism and the information signal recording and/or reproducing unitcarried by the driving part supporting substrate towards and away fromthe disc cartridge contained in the disc cartridge container. Byrotationally driving the rotation supporting substrate carrying the discrotation driving mechanism, the disc rotationally driving mechanism andthe information signal recording and/or reproducing unit may be moved tothe position of facing one of the disc cartridges contained in the disccartridge container sections. Also, by lifting the driving partsupporting substrate loaded on the driving part supporting substratelift mechanism, the disc rotation driving mechanism and the informationsignal recording and/or reproducing means may be drawn close to or movedaway from the disc contained in the disc cartridge.

Besides, the rotation supporting substrate has its rotation controlledwhen the driving part supporting substrate has been moved to theposition facing the selected disc cartridge contained in the disccartridge container section so that the driving part supportingsubstrate is controlled in its lifting movement at the position in whichthe disc rotation driving mechanism and the information signal recordingand/or reproducing means are drawn closer to the disc contained in theselected disc cartridge and the position in which the disc rotationdriving mechanism and the information signal recording and/orreproducing means are moved away from the disc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, as seen from above, showing a disccartridge to be loaded in a disc cartridge container according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, as seen from below, showing the disccartridge shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective vie, as seen from above, showing a modificationof the disc cartridge to be loaded in a disc cartridge containeraccording to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, as seen from below, showing the disccartridge shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a disc cartridge containeraccording to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the disc cartridgecontainer.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the bottom surface of the disccartridge container.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a mid partitioning plate of thedisc cartridge container.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the state of movement of a shutter openingactuating member and a shutter closure actuating member.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a modification of a disc cartridgecontainer according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing the disc cartridgecontainer shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing a disc reproducingapparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a disc cartridge container according tothe present invention and a disc cartridge container holder on which thedisc cartridge container is loaded.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing the state in which the disc cartridgecontainer is introduced into a disc cartridge container holder and arotation actuating gear is engaged with a rack gear.

FIG. 15 is a plan view showing the state in which the disc cartridgecontainer is introduced halfway into the disc cartridge containerholder.

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing the state in which the disc cartridgecontainer is loaded on the disc cartridge container holder.

FIG. 17 is a partial perspective view of the bottom side of a discreproducing apparatus showing essential parts of a driving partsupporting substrate lift mechanism and a rotatable supporting substratedriving mechanism.

FIG. 18 is a plan view showing the state in which the rotatablesupporting substrate carrying the driving part supporting substrate isat an initial position.

FIG. 19 is a plan view showing the state in which the rotatablesupporting substrate carrying the driving part supporting substrate hasbeen rotated relative to a stationary part supporting substrate.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing essential parts of a driving partsupporting substrate rotationally driven by a cam gear.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing the state in which the drivingpart supporting substrate carrying the disc rotation driving mechanismand the optical pickup is at the lowered position.

FIG. 22 is a partial perspective view showing a limiter mechanismprovided on a lift lever.

FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view showing the limiter mechanism.

FIG. 24 is a partial perspective view showing a disc cartridge containerthrusting member and a thrusting lever.

FIG. 25 is a schematic partial side view showing the state in which thedisc cartridge container is thrust and supported by the disc cartridgecontainer thrusting member.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing a locking mechanism for lockingthe rotatable supporting substrate to the stationary part supportingsubstrate.

FIG. 27 is a plan view showing the state of rotation of the cam gearwhen the driving part supporting substrate is in the lowered position.

FIG. 28 is a plan view showing the state of rotation of the cam gearwhen the driving part supporting substrate is being raised.

FIG. 29 is a plan view showing the state of rotation of the cam gearwhen the driving part supporting substrate has been raised.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view showing the state of rotation of the camgear when the driving part supporting substrate has been raised.

FIG. 31 is an exploded perspective view showing the state ofinterconnection of a flexible wiring substrate interconnecting anelectronic circuit on the rotatable supporting substrate side and anelectronic circuit on the stationary part supporting substrate side.

FIG. 32 is a perspective view showing a modification of a discreproducing apparatus having an optical disc thrusting member.

FIG. 33 is a side view showing a disc type discriminating device andshowing a detection switch in its lowered position.

FIG. 34 is a side view showing the disc type discriminating device andshowing the state in which the detection switch performs the disccartridge type discriminating operation.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, illustrative embodiments of the presentinvention will be explained in detail.

Before proceeding to description of the disc cartridge containeraccording to the present invention, a disc cartridge contained in thedisc cartridgecontainer is explained.

The disc cartridge 1 includes an upper half 2 and a lower half 3 abuttedand bonded to each other to form a cartridge main member 4, and anopticaldisc 5, as a recording medium for recording information signals,which is housed within the cartridge main member 4, as shown in FIG. 1and FIG. 2. The upper and lower halves 2 and 3 are rectangular incontour and preparedby molding from synthetic resin, as shown in FIG. 2.

The optical disc 5 is of a diameter approximately equal to 64 mm, andhas arecording capacity of recording music signals continuing for 74minutes. The cartridge main member 4, adapted for housing the opticaldisc 5, is ofa size large enough to hold the optical disc 5.

The lower half 3 of the cartridge main member 4 housing the optical disc5 is formed with an opening 6 into which a disc table of a disc rotationdriving mechanism for causing the rotation of the optical disc 5 isintruded when the disc cartridge 1 is loaded on the disc recordingand/or reproducing apparatus, as shown in FIG. 2. The opening 6 isformed so as to cause the exposure to outside of the inner rim portionof the optical disc 5, housed within the cartridge main member 4,inclusive of a metal plate 7 mounted for overlying a center aperture ofthe optical disc 5, as shown in FIG. 2. The metal plate 7 is formed of amagnetic material for clamping the optical disc 5 in position.

The upper and lower surfaces of the cartridge main member 4, that is theupper and lower halves 2, 3, are formed with information signalrecording/reproducing apertures 8 and 9, respectively, for exposing atleast a portion of the signal recording area of the optical disc 5housed therein to outside. These information signalrecording/reproducing apertures 8 and 9 are rectangular in shape andpositioned at a mid position along the transverse edge of the cartridgemain member 4 for extending from a position proximate to the opening 6as far as the forwardend face of the cartridge main member 4, as shownin FIG. 2.

A shutter member 10 for opening and closing the information signalrecording/reproducing apertures 8 and 9 is fitted on the forward endface of the cartridge main member 4, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Meanwhile, the forward end face of the cartridge main member 4, alongwhichthe shutter member 10 is moved, is formed with a groove 11 intowhich a portion of the shutter member 10 is intruded and into which ashutter opening actuating member is also intruded for actuating theshutter member10. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the groove 11 has anopening end 11a on a lateral surface of the cartridge main member 4normal to the forward end face thereof and is formed for extending inthe direction of movement of the shutter member 10.

The shutter member 10, which is of a substantially rectangular profile,is punched from a thin metal sheet and bent, or it can be molded from asynthetic material. The shutter member has shutter sections 10a, 10b foropening or closing the information signal recording/reproducingapertures 8 and 9 and a connecting web portion 10c interconnecting theshutter sections 10a, 10b. First and second slide guide sections 12, 13are formedas one with both ends of the connecting web portion 10c of theshutter member 10 for stably guiding the movement of the shutter member10 along the front end face of the cartridge main member 4. The distalend of the slide guide section 12 is bent to form a lock lug 15 adaptedfor being intruded into the groove 11 in the forward end face of thecartridge main member 4 for being engaged with a shutter locking member14 provided within the cartridge main member 4. When the shutter member10 is in a position of closing the information signalrecording/reproducing apertures8 and 9, the lock lug 15 is engaged withthe shutter locking member 14 for maintaining the closed state of theinformation signal recording/reproducing apertures 8 and 9.

When the shutter opening actuating member is intruded into the groove 11formed in the forward end face of the cartridge main member 4, theshutterlocking member 14, adapted for holding the shutter member 10 inthe aperture closing position, is elastically deformed by the shutteropening actuating member. As a result thereof, the lock lug 15 isdisengaged from the shutter locking member 14 to permit the shuttermember 10 to be moved by the shutter opening actuating member in adirection of opening the information signal recording/reproducingapertures 8 and 9. When the disc cartridge 1 is loaded on a pre-setcartridge loading unit, such as a disc cartridge container, the shuttermember 10 is moved to a position of completely opening the informationsignal recording/reproducing apertures 8 and 9. At this time, theshutter closing actuating member provided on the cartridge loadingsection is engaged with an opening 16 formed at a mid portion of theconnection web portion 10c of the shutter member 10 formaintaining theshutter member 10 at a position of opening the information signalrecording/reproducing apertures 8 and 9.

Meanwhile, the shutter closing actuating member puts a load on theshutter member 10 when ejecting the disc cartridge 1 from the cartridgeloading section. When the disc cartridge 1 is ejected from the cartridgeloading section, the shutter closing actuating member halts the shuttermember 10 at the aperture opening position during the movement of thecartridge mainmember 4 in the ejecting direction. As a result thereof,the shutter member10 is moved relative to the cartridge main member 4 toa position of closing the information signal recording/reproducingapertures 8 and 9. When the shutter member 10 is moved to the positionof closing informationsignal recording/reproducing apertures 8 and 9,the lock lug 15 is engaged with the shutter locking member 14 formaintaining the closed position of the information signalrecording/reproducing apertures 8 and 9.

The upper half 2 of the cartridge main member 4 of the disc cartridge 1hasa label sticking area 18 in which to stick a label 17 for indicatingthe contents of the information which is recorded or to be recorded onthe optical disc 5 contained in the cartridge main member 4. The labelsticking area 18 is formed in a portion of the cartridge main member 4which is not covered by the shutter section 10a of the shutter member10, that is a portion between the mid part and the rear edge of thecartridge main member 4, as shown in FIG. 1.

The lower half 3 constituting the lower surface of the cartridge mainmember 4 has engaging openings 19, 20 engaged by positioning pins, notshown, formed on the cartridge loading section. The engaging openings19, 20 are formed on both sides of a sliding area of the shutter member10, with the engaging opening 19 being an elongated opening having itslong axis extending along the sliding direction of the shutter member10, as shown in FIG. 2.

The rear end face of the cartridge main member 4 opposite to its forwardend carrying the shutter member 10 has a mistaken insertion inhibitiongroove 4a having an opening end on the lateral surface of the cartridgemain member 4 by which the cartridge main member is to be loaded on thecartridge loading section.

The disc cartridge 1 contains a recordable type optical disc 5 on whichinformation signals may be recorded by forcing an external magneticfield from an external magnetic field head under radiation of a lightbeam exiting from an optical head. A disc cartridge 21 containing aread-only optical disc 25 having information signals, such as musicsound signals, pre-recorded thereon, may also be loaded on the disccartridge container according to the present invention as shown in FIG.3. The disc cartridge 21 is identical in shape to the above-mentioneddisc cartridge 1 and the optical disc 25 contained in the cartridge mainmember 24 is also identical in size to the recordable type optical disc5.

However, the disc cartridge 21 containing the read-only optical disc 25is employed exclusively for reproducing information signals, so thatthere isno necessity of providing an aperture in the disc cartridge forallowing the external magnetic field head applying an external magneticfield to the optical disc 25 for facing the inside of the cartridge mainmember 24,because it is unnecessary to apply the external magnetic fieldto the disc for recording information signals. Consequently, the disccartridge 21 is not provided with an aperture faced by the externalmagnetic field head provided on the upper half 2 constituting the uppersurface of the disc cartridge 1 containing the recordable type opticaldisc 5, as shown in FIG. 3. That is, the upper half 2 constituting theupper surface of the disc cartridge 21 presents a solid surface free ofapertures, as shown in FIG. 3. Besides, the shutter member 22 is notprovided with a shutter section covering the upper half 2, but isprovided only with the shutter section 22b for covering an informationsignal reproducing aperture 23 formed in the lower half 3 of thecartridge main member 4, as shown in FIG. 4.

It is noted that the shutter member 22 is similar in construction to theshutter member associated with the disc cartridge 1 containing therecordable type optical disc 5, except that it is provided with theshutter section 22b on its one side only. Since the information signalreproducing aperture 23 is opened and closed by the similar operation tothat described above, the detailed description is not made herein.

Since the upper half 2 of the disc cartridge 21 containing the read-onlyoptical disc 25 is not formed with the aperture, substantially theentire surface of the upper half 2 is used as a label sticking area 18.The construction of the cartridge main body 24 is otherwise the same asthat of the cartridge main member 4 for the disc cartridge 1, so thatdetailed description is not made herein.

A disc cartridge container 30 according to the present invention isadaptedfor containing a plurality of, herein four, disc cartridges 1and/or 21. The disc cartridge 1 contains the re-recordable optical disc5 capable of re-recording information signals as mentioned above, whilethe disc cartridge 21 contains the optical disc 25 capable of onlyreproducing the information signals.

The disc cartridge container 30 is made up of a flat rectangularbox-shapedcontainer main member 31, a mid partitioning plate 32 mountedfor covering the open side of the container main member 31 and a lid 33mounted for covering the mid partitioning plate 32 for closing theopening side of thecontainer main member 31, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and7.

The container main member 31 is dimensioned to hold therein a matrixarray of four of the disc cartridges 1 and/or 21 so that the planarsurface sides thereof opposite to the major surfaces of the opticaldiscs 5, 25 contained in the cartridge main members 4, 24 will face abottom wall 34 of the main member 31. That is, the container main member31 is sized to hold a 2×2 matrix array of the disc cartridges 1 or 21.The outer peripheral sides of the container main member 31 are formed byupstanding peripheral wall members 36 constituting plural cartridgecontainers 35 containing plural disc cartridges 1 and/or 21, as shown inFIG. 6. At a mid portion of the bottom wall 34 of the container mainmember 31 is formed an upstanding boss 37 for threaded engagement withthe mid partitioning plate 32 and the lid 33 which are provided on theopening side of the container main member 31. A plurality ofpartitioning wall members 38 are set upright towards the respectivesides of the container main member 31 from the boss 37 as the center.These partitioning wall members 38 are set upright so as to be normal tothe sides of the container main member 31. These partitioning wallmembers 38 and the upstanding peripheral wall members 36 delimitseparate areas in which to hold the disc cartridges 1 and/or 21. By themid partitioning plate 32 mounted for closing the opening side of thecontainer main member 31, the cartridge containers 35 are formed by thespacings delimited by the partitioning wall members 38, upstandingperipheral wall members 36 and the mid partitioning plate 32.

The upstanding peripheral wall sections 36, formed on the outerperipheral sides of the container main member 31, are formed only on onehalf of the sides of the container main member 31. Thus the portions ofthe sides of the container main member 31 free from the upstandingperipheral wall members 36 are left open. The portions of the cartridgemain member 31 nothaving the peripheral wall members 36 representcartridge inserting/detachment opening areas delimited by the bottomwall 34 and themid partitioning plate 32. The portions of the cartridgemain member 31 nothaving the peripheral wall members 36 are designed notto be adjacent to each other, and are provided on the lefthand sides onthe outer periphery of the container main member 31, as shown in FIG. 6.The opening edge of the bottom wall 34 constituting a cartridgeinserting opening area 40 is formed with an inclined surface forfacilitating the insertion and removalof the disc cartridge 1 or 21introduced into the cartridge container 35.

The bottom wall 34 for each cartridge container 35 of the container mainmember 31 is formed with an aperture 41 for exposing the informationsignal recording/reproducing aperture 9 or the information signalreproducing aperture 23 and the disc table inlet opening 6 formed in thelower half 3 of the disc cartridge 1 or 21 contained in the cartridgecontainer 35 to outside, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Besides, the bottomwall 34 is formed with a cut-out opening 42 and a notch 43 for exposingpositioning pin engaging openings 19 and 20 formed in the lower half 3of the disc cartridge 1 or 21 the outside.

Meanwhile, the notch 43 also functions as a finger rest as an aid forinserting or removing the disc cartridge 1 or 21 contained within thecartridge container 35.

The inner peripheral surface of the upstanding peripheral wall members36 of the cartridge container 35 facing the partitioning plate 38 makingup the cartridge container 35 is formed with a mistaken insertioninhibiting lug 44 adapted for being engaged with a mistaken insertioninhibition groove 4a formed in the rear end face of the cartridge mainmember 4, as shown in FIG. 6. The mistaken insertion inhibiting lug 44plays the role of preventing the disc cartridge 1 or 21 being insertedinto the containersection 35 in an incorrect inserting direction. Oneach of the inner peripheral surface of the upstanding peripheral wallmembers 36, there is mounted a detachment inhibitive member 45 in theform of a spring member, such as a plate spring member, adapted forbeing engaged with an engagement recess 45a formed in the rear end faceof the disc cartridge 1 or 21 introduced into the cartridge container 35for preventing the disc cartridge from being detached from the container35.

The mid partitioning plate member 32, mounted on the container mainmember 31 for closing the opening side of the container main member 31,is formedby punching a thin metal plate in a substantially rectangularshape, and mounts cartridge thrusting and supporting members 46, 47adapted for thrusting and supporting the upper sides of the disccartridges 1 or 21 contained within the cartridge containers 35. A pairof the cartridge thrusting and supporting members 46, 47 is associatedwith each cartridge container 35, with the cartridge thrusting andsupporting member 46 being positioned for thrusting the inner sides ofthe disc cartridges 1 or 21 contained in the cartridge containers 35 andwith the cartridge thrusting and supporting member 47 being positionedfor thrusting the sides of the disc cartridges 1 or 21 in register withthe cartridge inserting/detachment opening area 40. The cartridgethrusting and supporting member 46 is formed by bending a plate springmember and has a terminal curved thrusting portion 46a intruded into thecartridge container 35 via a cut-out opening 48 formed in the midpartitioning platemember 32 for thrusting and supporting the uppersurface of the disc cartridge 1 or 21 housed within the cartridgecontainer 35. The opposite cartridge thrusting and supporting member 47is formed by an elastic deflective member 47a, in the form of a platespring member, having an endboss 47b of synthetic resin which isintruded into the cartridge container 35 via the cut-out opening 48 forthrusting and supporting the upper side of the disc cartridge 1 or 21contained in each cartridge container 35.

The mid partitioning plate 32 is provided with a movable shutter openingactuating member 51 and a shutter closure actuating member 52 facing thefront end face of the disc cartridge 1 or 21 within the cartridgecontainer 35 along which is moved the shutter member 10 or 22, as showninFIG. 8.

Meanwhile, the disc cartridge 1 or 21 is inserted into and detached fromthe cartridge container 35 via the cartridge inserting/detachmentopening area 40 with a lateral side of the disc cartridge extendingnormal to the slide direction of the shutter member 10 or 22 as aninserting side, as shown in FIG. 5. Thus, each partitioning wall 38constituting each cartridge container 35 represents the surface facingthe end face of the disc cartridge 1 or 21 along which the shuttermember 10 or 22 is moved. The shutter opening actuating member 51 andthe shutter closure actuating member 52, provided as a pair for eachcartridge container 35, are adaptedfor being moved along eachpartitioning wall member 38.

The shutter opening actuating member 51 is made up of a slide guidemember 54, a detachment preventative member 55 mounted on the upper edgeof the slide guide member 54 and a roll 56 mounted on the upper end faceof the detachment preventative member 55, as shown in FIG. 8. The slideguide member 54 is formed with a shutter opening actuating end lug 53adapted for being intruded into the groove 11 formed in the front endface of the cartridge main member 4 of the disc cartridge 1 or 21 housedwithin the cartridge container.

On the other hand, the shutter closure actuating member 52 is made up ofa slide guide member 58, a detachment preventative member 59 mounted onthe upper edge of the slide guide member 58 and a roll 60 mounted on theupperend face of the detachment preventative member 58, as shown in FIG.8. The slide guide member 58 is formed with a shutter closure actuatingportion 57, in the form of a spring member, such as a plate springmember, adaptedfor riding on the front end face of the cartridge mainmember of the disc cartridge 1 or 21 housed within the cartridgecontainer 35 so as to be moved along the connecting web portion 10c ofthe shutter member 10 or 22 for being thrust against and engaged in themating opening 16 formed connecting web portion 10c.

The shutter opening actuating member 51 is slidably mounted on the midpartitioning plate 32, with the shutter opening actuating member 53being protruded into the cartridge container 35 and with the slide guidemember 54 being passed through a slide guide groove 61 formed in the midpartitioning plate 32 along each partitioning wall member 38 to causethe detachment preventative member 55 to be engaged with the uppersurface of the mid partitioning plate 32. On the other hand, the shutterclosure actuating member 52 is slidably mounted on the mid partitioningplate 32, with the shutter closure actuating member 57 being protrudedinto the cartridge container 35 and with the slide guide member 58 beingpassed through the slide guide groove 61 to cause the detachmentpreventative member 59 to be engaged with the upper surface of the midpartitioning plate 32. Thus the shutter closure member 52 is slidablymounted on the mid partitioning plate 32 parallel to the shutter openingactuating member

On top of the upper surface of the mid partitioning plate 32, from whichare protruded the rolls 56, 60 of the shutter opening actuating member51 and the shutter closure actuating member 52, there is mounted arotation actuating plate 62 for sliding the shutter opening actuatingmember 51 andthe shutter closure actuating member 52 along the slideguide groove 61. The rotation actuating member 62 is mounted by passingthe boss 37 set on a mid part of the container main member 31 through acenter opening 63 thereof so that the rotation actuating member 62 maybe rotated about the boss 37 as the center of rotation. The rotationactuating member 62 is formed with four cam grooves 64 in associationwith the shutter opening actuating member 51 and the shutter closureactuating member 52 provided as pairs in the cartridge containers 35.These cam grooves 64 are engaged by the rolls 56, 60 of the shutteropening actuating member 51 and the shutter closure actuating member 52provided as pairs in the cartridge containers 35. The rotation of therotation actuating member 63 as later explained causes the rolls 56, 60to be moved along the cam groove 64 to cause the shutter openingactuating member 51 and the shutter closure actuating member 52 to bemoved along the slide guide groove 61 as indicated by arrows A or B inFIG. 9.

Meanwhile, the cam groove 64 is bifurcated into branched cam grooves64a, 64b by a bifurcation 65 set at its proximal side. In an initialstate in which the disc cartridge 1 or 21 is not loaded in eachcartridge container35, the rolls 56 and 60 are located within thebranched cam grooves 64a, 64b. At this time, the shutter openingactuating member 51 is positioned with the shutter opening actuatingmember 53 intruded into the opening area 11a of the groove 11 formed inthe disc cartridge 1 or 21 housed within the cartridge container 35.That is, the shutter opening actuating member 51 is positioned so as notto actuate the shutter member 10 or 22 mounted on the disc cartridge 1or 21. On the other hand, the shutter closure actuating member 52 ispositioned so that the shutter closure actuating member 57 is abuttedagainst and engaged in the mating opening 16 formed in the connectingweb portion 10c of the shutter member 10 or 22mounted on the disccartridge 1 or 21 housed within the cartridge container

When the rotation actuating member 62 is rotated in a directionindicated by an arrow C in FIG. 9, the rolls 56, 60 are intruded fromthe branched cam grooves 64a, 64b into the cam groove 64. As a result ofthe rotation actuating plate 62 being guided and moved along the camgroove 64, the shutter opening actuating member 51 and the shutterclosure actuating member 52 are moved in a direction indicated by anarrow A in FIG. 9, withthe slide guide members 54 and 58 being guidedalong the slide guide groove61. The shutter opening actuating lug 53 ofthe shutter opening actuating member is intruded into the groove 11formed in the cartridge main member 4 of the disc cartridge 1 or 21housed within the disc container 35 for unlocking the shutter member 10or 22 for moving the shutter member 10 or 22 in the direction of openingthe information signal recording/reproducing apertures 8 and 9 or theinformation signal recording/reproducing aperture 23. At this time, theshutter closure actuating member 52 is moved in unison with the shuttermember 10 or 22, with the shutter closure actuating lug 57 remainingpressed against and engaged in the mating opening 16 formed in theconnecting web portion 10c of the shutter member 10 or 22.

When the rotation actuating plate 62 is rotated in a direction indicatedbyan arrow D in FIG. 9, and the rolls 56, 60 are moved by being guidedalong the cam groove 64, the shutter opening actuating member 51 and theshutterclosure actuating member 52 are moved in a direction shown by anarrow B inFIG. 9 by the slide guide members 54 and 58 guided along theslide guide groove 61. As the shutter closure actuating member 52,having the shutter closure actuating member 57 pressed against andengaged in the mating opening 16, is moved in the direction shown by thearrow B in FIG. 9, the shutter member 10 or 22 is moved in the directionof closing the information signal recording/reproducing apertures 8 and9 or the information signal recording/reproducing aperture 23.

The rotation of the rotation actuating member 62 in the directions shownbyarrows C and D in FIG. 9 is produced by a rotation actuating gear 68rotatably mounted on a supporting shaft 67 set on the mid partitioningplate 32 for meshing with a gear 66 formed on the outer periphery of therotation actuating plate 62. The rotation actuating gear 68 is rotatedby meshing with a rack gear provided on the disc recording and/orreproducingapparatus on which the disc cartridge container 30 is loadedin a manner asdescribed subsequently.

Meanwhile, a notch 69 is formed at the foremost part of the gear 66formed in the rotation actuating plate 62. By provision of the notch 69,an end part 66a of the gear 66 may be deflected resiliently in adirection shown by an arrow E in FIG. 9. The notch 69 plays the part ofabsorbing an excess rotating power applied to the gear 66 when therotation actuating gear 68 causes the rotation actuating plate 62 to berotated until the shutter member 10 or 22 is moved by the shutteropening actuating member 51 and the shutter closure actuating member 52up to the aperture opening position and subsequently a force for causingfurther rotation of the rotation actuating plate 62 is exerted to thegear 66 by the rotation actuating gear 68.

The upper surface of the mid partitioning plate 32 mounting the rotationactuating plate 62 and the rotation actuating gear 68 is covered by thelid 33 mounted for closing the aperture in the container main member 31,as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The lid 33 is fixed to the container mainmember 31 by plural set screws 70. The lid 33 has its mid region securedby a set screw 29 to the boss 37 set upright at a mid portion of thecontainer main member 31 to prevent the rotation actuating member 62becoming detached from the boss 37. Besides, the rotation actuating gear68 has the foremost part of its supporting shaft 67 supported by theinnersurface of the lid 33 for being prevented from becoming detachedfrom the supporting shaft 67.

The lid 33 is formed with an engagement groove 72 which is engaged by arack plate, not shown, as the disc cartridge container 30 is loaded onthedisc recording and/or reproducing apparatus. The rack plate isprovided on the disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus and isformed with a rack gear engaged with the rotation actuating gear 68. Theengagement groove 72is formed in the lid for extending along a lateralside of the rotation actuating gear 68 from a disc cartridge containerinsertion end into the disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus. Thatis, since the engagementgroove 72 is formed at a position offset fromthe center of the disc cartridge container 30, it acts as a groove forchecking for mistaken insertion of the disc cartridge container into thedisc recording and/or reproducing apparatus, as shown in FIG. 5.

The portion of the lid 33 making up the cartridge inserting/detachmentopening area 40 in conjunction with the bottom wall 34 of the containermain member 31 of the lid 33 has a finger rest notch 73 in register withthe notch 43 formed in the bottom wall 34. That is, the notch 43 formedinthe container main member 31 and the notch 73 formed in the lid 33make up a cartridge holder disposed at the opening end of the cartridgeinserting opening area 40 for holding the disc cartridge 1 or 21 housedwithin the cartridge container 35.

The opening end part of the lid 33 defining the cartridge insertingopeningarea 40 facing the disc cartridge container inserting/detachmentopening ofthe disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus when the disccartridge container 30 is loaded on the disc recording and/orreproducing apparatus is formed with a recess 74 receded towards thecartridge inserting side along the entire width of the opening end, asshown in FIG. 5. The recess 74 plays the part of allowing the rearinserting end of the disc cartridge1 or 21 housed within the cartridgecontainer 35 to be protruded from the cartridge inserting/detachmentopening area 40 to permit facilitated gripping of the portion of thedisc cartridge 1 or 21 protruded from the cartridge inserting/detachmentopening area 40 when the disc cartridge container 30 is loaded inposition on the disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus.

The disc cartridge 1 or 21 is inserted into each cartridge container 35of the above-described disc cartridge container 30, with the lateralside of the disc cartridge normal to the front end face thereof carryingthe movable shutter member 10 or 22 as the inserting side. When the disccartridge 1 or 21 has been introduced into the disc container 35, theshutter opening actuating member 51 and the shutter closure actuatingmember 52 are at the initial position in a non-activated state.Consequently, when the disc cartridge 1 or 21 is inserted into thecartridge container 35, the shutter member 10 or 21 is locked by theshutter locking member 14, with the information signalrecording/reproducing apertures 8 and 9 or the information signalrecording/reproducing aperture 23 remaining in the closed position.Consequently, if the disc cartridge container 30 is transported or laidinstore with the disc cartridge 1 or 21 remaining inserted into thecartridgecontainer 35, it becomes possible to prevent dust and dirtbeing intruded via the information signal recording/reproducingapertures 8 and 9 or the information signal recording/reproducingaperture 23 into the inside of the cartridge main member 4 or 24 forassuring positive protection of the optical disc 5 or 25.

Meanwhile, when the disc cartridge 1 or 21 is inserted to a pre-sethousingposition in the cartridge container 35, the detachmentpreventative member 45 provided on the cartridge container 35 is engagedwith the engagement recess 45a of the cartridge main member 4 or 24 toprevent the disc cartridge from being detached from the cartridgeinserting/detachment opening area 40.

If, after housing the disc cartridge 1 or 21 into each of the cartridgecontainers 35, the rotation actuating gear 68 is rotated in a directionshown by an arrow F in FIG. 9 for causing rotation of the rotationactuating gear 68 in the direction shown by the arrow C in FIG. 9, theshutter opening actuating member 51 and the shutter closure actuatingmember 52 are moved in the direction shown by the arrow A in FIG. 9. Asthe shutter opening actuating member 51 is moved in the direction shownbythe arrow A in FIG. 9, the shutter member 10 or 22 is unlocked tocause theshutter member 10 or 21 to be moved by the shutter openingactuating member51 for opening the information signalrecording/reproducing apertures 8 and9 or the information signalrecording/reproducing aperture 23. If the rotation actuating gear 68 isrotated in the direction opposite to that shown by the arrow F in FIG.9, from the state in which the information signal recording/reproducingapertures 8 and 9 or the information signal recording/reproducingaperture 23 is opened, the rotation actuating plate 62 is rotated in thedirection shown by the arrow D in FIG. 9 for shiftingthe shutter openingactuating member 51 and the shutter closure actuating member 52 in thedirection shown by the arrow B in FIG. 9. The shutter member 10 or 22,having its opening 16 pressed and engaged by the shutter closureactuating member 57, is moved as one with the shutter closure actuatingmember 52 in the direction shown by the arrow B in FIG. 9 for closingthe information signal recording/reproducing apertures 8 and 9 or theinformation signal recording/reproducing aperture 23.

The inside of the cartridge container section 35 cannot be seen throughbecause the mid partitioning plate 32 is formed by a metal plate and thelid 33 is formed of opaque synthetic resin. However, the inside of thecartridge container section 35 can be seen through by forming the midpartitioning plate 32 and the lid 33 of the light-transmittingtransparentresin material. Since the inside of the disc containersection 35 can be seen through in this manner, the label 17 stuck on thedisc cartridge 1 or21 housed within the disc container section 35 can bevisually checked fromoutside.

In order for the inside of the disc container 35 to be seen through, themid partitioning plate 32 formed of metal or the like opaque materialand the lid 33 formed of the opaque synthetic resin may be formed withtransparent windows 75 nd 76, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, so that thelabel 17 stuck on the disc cartridge 1 or 21 housed within the disccontainer 35 can be visually checked from outside.

Meanwhile, the transparent windows 75, 76 provided in the midpartitioning plate 32 and the lid 33 are provided in register with oneanother so as not to be overlapped with the rotation actuating plate 62.The transparentwindows 75, 76 may also be fitted with plates oftransparent synthetic resin.

The disc reproducing apparatus, on which the above-described disccartridgecontainer 30 is loaded, and which is adapted for reproducinginformation signals recorded on the optical disc 5 or 25 contained inthe disc cartridge 5 or 25, respectively, contained in each cartridgecontainer section 35 of the disc cartridge container 30, is hereinafterexplained.

The disc reproducing apparatus has enclosed therein a mechanism forselecting one of the disc cartridges 1 or 21 contained and held withinthecartridge container sections 35 of the cartridge container 30 loadedin a disc cartridge container holder 81 arranged within an outer casingconstituting the main member of the apparatus for reproducinginformation signals, such as music signals, recorded on the optical disc5 or 25 contained in the selected disc cartridge 1 or 21.

As shown in FIG. 12, the mechanism for selecting one of the disccartridges1 or 21 contained and held within the cartridge holders 35 forreproducing information signals, such as music signals, recorded on theoptical disc 5or 25 contained in the selected disc cartridge 1 or 21, ismainly comprisedof a rotatable supporting substrate 85 supporting adriving part supportingsubstrate 84 having loaded thereon a discrotation driving mechanism 82 andan optical pickup 83 as informationsignal reading means, a stationary partsupporting substrate 86 rotatablysupporting the rotatable supporting substrate 85, a rotation drivingmechanism 87 for rotating the rotatable supporting substrate 85 forshifting the disc rotation driving mechanism 82 and the optical pickup83 loaded on the driving part to a position in register with one of thedisc cartridges 1 or 21 contained and held by thecartridge containersections 35 of the disc cartridge container 30, and a driving partsupporting substrate lift mechanism 88 for lifting the driving partsupporting substrate 84 for shifting the disc rotation driving mechanism82 and the optical pickup 83 towards and away from the disc cartridge 1or 21 contained in the cartridge container section 35.

The disc cartridge container holder 81 for loading the disc cartridgecontainer 30 is rectangular in profile and includes an upper plate 90having a width approximately equal to the width of the disc cartridgecontainer 30 and formed with sidewall members 91, 91 on opposite lateralsides thereof, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. The rear side of the upperplate 90 opposite to the forward end thereof having the containerinserting/detachment opening area 92 via which the cartridge container30 is inserted or removed is formed with an insertion controlling wallmember93 for checking for excess insertion of the disc cartridgecontainer 30 loaded into the disc cartridge container holder 81.

The disc cartridge container holder 81 is mounted on the fixed partsupporting substrate 86 by stacking the sidewall members 91, 91 of theholder 81 on a pair of sidewall members 95, 95 set on both opposinglateral sides of the fixed part supporting substrate 86 and by mountingset screws 96 in position. The spacing defined between the upper plate90 of the disc cartridge container holder 81 and container supportinglugs 94formed by bending the upper edges of the sidewall members 95, 95of the fixed part supporting substrate 86 parallel to the upper plate 90is used as a loading section for loading the disc cartridge container 30therein.

Meanwhile, the fixed part supporting substrate 86 is mounted on an outercasing by having supporting pins 97 supported on the outer casing viaresilient supporting members having the shock absorbing function. Thesupporting pins 97 are protuberantly mounted on the outer peripheralsurfaces of the sidewall members 91, 91 of the disc cartridge containerholder 81 mounted on the fixed part supporting substrate 86.

An ejection plate 98 for ejecting the disc cartridge holder 30 loaded onthe disc cartridge container holder 81 is mounted on the top plate 90 ofthe holder 81. The ejection plate 98 is mounted for movement along thedirection of insertion and detachment of the disc cartridge container 30loaded in the disc cartridge container holder 81 by having slide guidepins 99 engaged in plural slide guide grooves 90a formed in the topplate 90 and by having a slide guide pin 100 on the top plate 90 engagedin a slide guide groove 101. The rear end of the ejection plate 98 isformed with a thrust lug 103 intruded into the inside of the disccartridge container holder 81 via a notch 102 formed in the top plate90. The thrustlug 103 is adapted for being thrust by the disc cartridgecontainer 30 loaded on the disc cartridge container holder 81 whilethrusting the disc cartridge container 30 for ejection.

The ejection plate 98 is permanently biased by tension springs 106, 106installed between a pair of spring retainers 104, 104 formed bypartially segmenting the ejection plate 98 and a pair of springretainers 105, 105 formed in the top plate 90. That is, the ejectionplate 98 is biased in the direction of expelling the disc cartridgecontainer 30 loaded on the disc cartridge container holder 81 out of thedisc cartridge container holder 81.

On the top plate 90 of the disc cartridge container holder 81 is mounteda substantially L-shaped locking plate 108 by means of which theejection plate 98 slid in the direction opposite to that shown by anarrow G in FIG. 13 against the bias of the tension springs 106, 106 byhaving the thrust lug 103 being thrust by the disc cartridge holder 30loaded on the disc cartridge container holder 81 is maintained at thedisc cartridge container loading position. The locking plate 108 iscarried by a supporting shaft 109 set on the top plate 90 for rotationabout the supporting shaft 109 and is perpetually rotationally biased inthe direction shown by an arrow H in FIGS. 12 and 13 by a tension spring112 mounted between a spring retainer 110 and another spring retainer111 formed in a part of the top plate 90.

The opposite end of the locking plate 108 is formed with a rotationcontrolgroove 115 on one lateral side of which is slidingly contacted amating lock pin 114 set on the ejection plate 98. A lock lug 116 adaptedfor engaging with the mating lock pin 114 is formed protruding into therotation control groove 115 at the distal end of the lateral side of therotation control groove contacted with the mating lock pin 114. Thematinglock pin 114 is engaged with the lock lug 116 in such a mannerthat, as theejection plate 98 is thrust by the disc cartridge holder 30loaded on the disc cartridge container holder 81 so as to be moved to adisc cartridge container loading position, the mating lock pin 114 ismoved as it is contacted with the lateral side of the rotation controlgroove 115, the mating lock pin 114 riding on the lock lug 116 whilecausing the locking plate 108 to be rotated against the bias of thetension spring 112. When the mating lock pin 114 rides over the lock lug116, the locking plate 108is rotated backwards in the direction shown bythe arrow H in FIG. 13 underthe bias of the tension spring 112 forengaging the mating lock pin 114 with the lock lug 116. As a resultthereof, the ejection plate 98 is locked at a position in which the disccartridge holder 30 has been loadedon the disc cartridge containerholder 81.

On one of the lateral sides 91 of the disc cartridge container holder 81ismounted an ejection lever 121 adapted for rotating the locking plate108 against the force of the tension spring 112 for disengaging themating lock pin from the locking lug 116 for rotating the ejection plate98 by the tension springs 106, 106 in the direction shown by the arrow Gin FIGS. 12 and 13 for ejecting the disc cartridge holder 30 loaded onthe disc cartridge container holder 81. The ejection lever 121 isslidably mounted on the disc cartridge container holder 81 by havingelongated openings 123, 123 formed therein engaged by slide guide pins122, 122 set on one of the lateral side 91 of the disc cartridgecontainer holder 81. The upper edge of the distal end of the ejectionlever 121 is formed with a locking plate rotating lug 125 adapted to beengaged with a mating lug 124 protruded from one end of the lockingplate 108. The ejection lever 121 is biased by a tension spring 120mounted between it and the lateral side 91 so as to be moved in thedirection shown by an arrow I in FIG. 12 which is the direction ofbackward rotation of the locking plate 108.

For ejecting the disc cartridge container 30 by unlocking the ejectionplate 98 which has been locked at a position of loading the disccartridgecontainer 30 on the disc cartridge container holder 81, theejection lever 121 is moved in the direction opposite to that shown bythe arrow I in FIG. 12 against the bias of the tension spring 120. Bysuch movement of the ejection lever 121, the locking plate 108 isrotated in the direction opposite to that shown by the arrow H in FIG.12, against the bias of the tension spring 112, for unlocking the matinglock pin 114 from the lock lug 116. The ejection plate 98 is moved inthe direction shown by the arrow G in FIG. 12, under the bias of thetension springs 106, 106, for thrusting the disc cartridge holder 30 bythe thrust lug 103 for ejecting the disc cartridge holder 30 from thedisc cartridge container holder 81.

A step notch 127 for retaining a retention lug 126 formed by partiallysegmenting the ejection plate 98 is formed on the lateral side of therotation control groove 115 of the locking plate 108 opposite to thelateral side thereof carrying the lock lug 116. The purpose of providingthe step notch 127 is to cause the retention lug 127 to abut on the stepnotch 127 to inhibit abrupt movement of the ejection plate 98 when theejection plate 121 is actuated to rotate the locking plate 108 againstthebias of the tension coil spring 112 for disengaging the mating lockpin 116from the lock lug 116, that is to produce the movement of theejection plate 98 in association with the release of the thrusting ofthe ejection lever 121 to inhibit abrupt ejection of the disc cartridgeholder 30.

The ejection plate 98 mounted on the disc cartridge container holder 81hasa depending tab 129 which is superimposed on the lateral side 94 ofthe disc cartridge container holder 81 has a disc cartridge containerthrusting member 128 in the form of a plate spring which is protrudedvia a cut-out formed in the lateral wall 94 into the inside of theholder 81 for thrusting and supporting the lateral side of the disccartridge container 30 loaded on the disc cartridge container holder 81for controlling the horizontal mounting position of the disc cartridgecontainer 30.

On the inner lateral surface of the top plate 90, which is the innerlateral surface of the disc cartridge container holder 81, there ismounted a rack gear 131 by being engaged in a rack plate engaging recessformed by partially segmenting the lid 33 of the disc cartridgecontainer 30 loaded on the disc cartridge container holder 81 formeshing with the rotation actuating gear 68 adapted for rotating therotation actuating plate 62. The rack plate 131 is provided at aposition of being engaged with the rack plate engagement groove 72 whenthe disc cartridge container30 is loaded correctly from the insertingend on to the disc cartridge container holder 81, as shown in FIG. 14.That is, the rack plate 131 is mounted at a position offset towards oneof the lateral sides 95 of the disc cartridge container holder 81.

The rack plate 131 is L-shaped in cross-section and is designed so thattherack gear 130 is protruded from its upper side. The rack plateengagement groove 72 formed in the disc cartridge container holder 81has a broad opening end 72a, that is it has a broad inserting end forthe rack plate 131. Consequently, when the rack plate 131 is engaged inthe engagement groove 72, the disc cartridge holder 30 is supported bythe top plate 90 of the disc cartridge container holder 81 to preventthe disc cartridge container holder 81 being detached towards the lowerside.

When the disc cartridge holder 30 is inserted via the containerinserting/detachment opening area 92 into the disc cartridge containerholder 81 fitted with the rack plate 131 carrying the rack gear 130, therack plate 131 is engaged in the rack plate engagement groove 72 via theopening end 72a. When the disc cartridge holder 30 is inserted halfwayinto the disc cartridge container holder 81, the rack gear 130 of therackplate 131 is engaged with the rotation actuating gear 68.

Since the engagement groove 72 is formed at an offset position towardsone side, the insertion of the disc cartridge holder 30 into the disccartridge container holder 81 is inhibited unless the disc cartridgeholder 30 is inserted into the opening area 92 from the correctinserting direction, otherwise the rack plate 131 cannot be engaged inthe engagement groove 72.

If the disc cartridge container 30 is further inserted into the insideof the disc cartridge container holder 81, as shown in FIG. 14, therotation actuating gear 68 is rotated in the direction shown by thearrow F in FIG.14 by the relative movement between the disc cartridgeholder 30 and the rack plate 131. By such rotation of the rotationactuating gear 68 in the direction shown by the arrow F in FIG. 14, therotation actuating member 62 is rotated in the direction shown by thearrow C in FIG. 14 for moving shutter opening actuating member 51 andthe shutter closure actuating member 52 in the direction shown by thearrow A in FIG. 14. With the movement of the shutter opening actuatingmember 51 in the direction shownby the arrow A in FIG. 14, the shuttermember 10 or 22 of the disc cartridge 1 or 21 contained in the disccontainer section 35 is unlocked and the shutter member 10 or 22 ismoved in the direction shown by the arrow A in FIG. 14 for opening theinformation signal recording/reproducing apertures 8 and 9 or theinformation signal recording/reproducing aperture 23. When the disccartridge container 30 isinserted further into the inside of the disccartridge container holder 81,the rotation actuating gear 68 meshingwith the rack gear 130 is rotated inthe direction shown by the arrow Fin FIG. 15 for shifting the shutter member 10 or 22 to the position ofcompletely opening the information signal recording/reproducingapertures 8 and 9 or the information signal recording/reproducingaperture 23, as shown in FIG. 16. The information signalrecording/reproducing apertures 8 and 9 or the information signalrecording/reproducing aperture 23 are exposed to the outside via theaperture 41 formed in the disc cartridge holder 30, as shown in FIG. 16.When the disc cartridge container 30 is introduced into the inside ofthe disc cartridge container holder 81, the thrust lug 103 is thrust andactuated at the inserting end of the disc cartridge container 30 so thatthe ejection plate 98 is moved in the direction shown by the arrow G inFIG. 13 against the bias of the tension springs 106, 106. With themovement of the ejection plate 98, the mating lock pin 114 causes thelocking plate 108 to be rotated in the direction opposite to that showninFIG. 13 against the bias of the tension spring 112. When the disccartridgeholder 30 is inserted up to the loading position of the disccartridge container holder 81, the locking plate 108 is rotated by thetension spring 112 in the direction opposite to that shown by the arrowH in FIG. 13, as the mating lock pin 114 rides on the lock lug 116. Whenthe disc cartridge holder 30 is inserted up to the loading position forthe disc cartridge container holder 81, the locking plate 108 is rotatedby the tension spring 112 in the direction opposite to that shown by thearrow H in FIG. 13, the mating lock pin 114 being engaged with the locklug 116 for maintaining the ejection plate 98 in the position of loadingthe disc cartridge container 30.

When the ejection plate 121 is thrust against the bias of the tensionspring 112, the locking plate 108 is rotated in the direction oppositeto that shown by the arrow H in FIG. 13 for disengaging the lock lug 116fromthe mating lock pin 114 for shifting thee ejection plate 98 in thedirection shown by the arrow G in FIG. 13 under the bias of the tensionsprings 106, 106. The disc cartridge container 30 is thrust and actuatedby the thrust lug 103 for ejecting the disc cartridge container 30 outof the disc cartridge container holder 81. The rotation actuating gear68 engaged with the rack gear 130 with the movement of the disccartridge container 30 in the ejecting direction is rotated at this timein the direction opposite to that shown by the arrow F in FIG. 16 forrotating the rotation actuating plate 62 in the direction shown by thearrow D in FIG. 16. The shutter opening actuating member 51 and theshutter closure actuating member 52 are moved in the direction shown bythe arrow B in FIG. 13 for moving the shutter member 10 or 22 of thedisc cartridge 1 or 21 in the direction of closing the informationsignal recording/reproducing apertures 8 and 9 or the information signalrecording/reproducing aperture 23. When the disc cartridge container 30isejected out of the disc cartridge container holder 81, the informationsignal recording/reproducing apertures 8 and 9 or the information signalrecording/reproducing aperture 23 are completely closed by the shuttermember 10 or 22.

Thus, when the disc cartridge container 30 is contained in the disccartridge container holder 81, the information signalrecording/reproducing apertures 8 and 9 or the information signalrecording/reproducing aperture 23 of the disc cartridge 1 or 21contained in each cartridge container 35 is opened, whereas, when thedisc cartridgecontainer 30 is ejected out of the disc cartridgecontainer holder 81, the information signal recording/reproducingapertures 8 and 9 or the information signal recording/reproducingaperture 23 is closed, for assuring reliable protection of the opticaldisc 5 or 25 contained in the disc cartridge 1 or 21.

The rotatable supporting substrate 85 supporting the driving partsupporting substrate 84 is rotatably supported on the stationary partsupporting substrate 86 carrying the disc cartridge container holder 81,as shown in FIG. 12.

The rotatable supporting substrate 85 is prepared by punching a metalsheetand carries the driving part supporting substrate 84 in such amanner that the disc cartridge 1 or 21 contained in each cartridgecontainer section 35 of the disc cartridge container 30 loaded on thedisc cartridge container holder 81 is faced by the driving partsupporting substrate 84 when the substrate 85 is rotatably mounted onthe stationary part supporting substrate 86. On the driving partsupporting substrate 84, there are mounted the disc rotation drivingmechanism 82 for rotating the optical disc 5 or 25 contained in the disccartridge 1 or 21 and the optical pickup 83 adapted for being movedalong the radius of the optical disc 5 or 25 rotated by the discrotation driving mechanism 82 for readinginformation signals, such asmusic signals, recorded on the optical disc 5 or 25, as shown in FIGS.12 to 17. The driving part supporting substrate 84 is prepared bypunching a metal sheet and has its proximal side supported in acantilevered fashion by the stationary part supporting substrate 86 viaa plate spring member 135 which is a resiliently deflectable supportingmember. Consequently, the driving part supporting substrate 84 may belifted in the direction normal to the plane of the stationary partsupporting substrate 86 with the plate spring member 135 as a hinge forrotation. The lifting of the driving part supporting substrate 84 istaken charge of by the driving part supporting substrate lift mechanism88 arranged as described subsequently.

The rotatable supporting substrate 85 supporting the driving partsupporting substrate 84 carrying the disc rotation driving mechanism 82and the optical pickup 83 is rotatably supported relative to thestationary part supporting substrate 86 by having a rotation supportingshaft 133, shown in FIG. 17, at the center of rotation carried by apivot 134 set on the stationary part supporting substrate 86. Therotatable supporting substrate 85 is rotated relative to the stationarypart supporting substrate 86 by a rotatable supporting substraterotationally driving mechanism 137 rotationally driven by a firstdriving motor 136. The rotatable supporting substrate rotationallydriving mechanism 137 is made up of an intermediate gear 140 meshingwith a gear part 139 formed onthe perimeter of a gear plate 138 madefast with the pivot 134 set on the stationary part supporting substrate86 and a driving force transmitting gearing 141 meshing with theintermediate gear 140. The intermediate gear 140 and the driving forcetransmitting gearing 141 are mounted on the rotatable supportingsubstrate 85. The driving force transmitting gearing 141 is made up ofplural gears and is provided between a worm gear 144 mounted on adriving shaft of the first driving motor 136 and the intermediate gear140 for transmitting the rotationally driving force of the first drivingmotor 136 to the intermediate gear 140.

When the first driving motor 136 is run in rotation, the rotationallydriving force of the first driving motor 136 is transmitted via thegearing 141 and the intermediate gear 140 to the gear plate 138 mountedonthe stationary part supporting substrate 86 so that the rotatablesupporting substrate 85 is rotated relative to the stationary partsupporting substrate 86 about the rotation supporting shaft 133 as thecenter of rotation.

Meanwhile, in the initial state prior to starting the reproduction ofthe optical disc 5 or 25, the rotation supporting substrate 85 ismaintained at a position in which the disc rotation driving mechanism 82and the optical pickup 83 have been rotated to a position of facing thedesignatedone of four cartridge container sections 35 of the disccartridge container30 loaded on the disc cartridge container holder 81,as shown in FIG. 18. The reason for controlling the rotatable supportingsubstrate 85 in this manner is to select the desired one of the fourdisc cartridges 1 or 21 contained in the disc cartridge container 30 tocause the selected disc cartridge 1 or 21 to be readily faced by thedisc rotation driving mechanism 82 and the optical pickup 83.

That is, if the disc rotation and driving mechanism 82 and the opticalpickup 83 are not in the position of facing the designated cartridgecontainer section 35, as shown in FIG. 19, the first driving motor 136starts to be driven for rotating the rotatable supporting substrate 85on loading the disc cartridge container 30 on the disc cartridgecontainer holder 81. The rotatable supporting substrate 85 is rotated inthe counterclockwise direction shown by an arrow J in FIG. 19 until aswitch actuator 143 provided on the lower surface of the stationary partsupporting substrate 86 thrusts an initial position setting switch 142provided on the stationary part supporting substrate 86. When initialposition setting switch 142 is thrust and actuated by the switchactuator 143 as shown in FIG. 18, the rotation of the first drivingmotor 136 ceases and the rotation supporting substrate 85 is halted atan initial position in which the disc rotationally driving mechanism 82and the optical pickup 83 face the address 1 cartridge container section35. When the desired cartridge container 35 in the disc cartridgecontainer 30 is selected, the first driving motor 136 starts to berotated for rotating the rotation supporting substrate 85. The firstdriving motor 136 is halted after having rotated the rotation supportingsubstrate 85 to a position in which the disc rotation driving mechanism82 and the optical pickup 83 are caused to face the selected cartridgecontainer section 35.

Meanwhile, the selection of the desired one of the cartridge containersections 35 in the disc cartridge holder 30 and the movement of the discrotation driving mechanism 82 and the optical pickup 83 are caused tooccur by a detector 145 on the outer periphery of the rotationsupporting substrate 85 detecting the passage of the detector by aphotointerruptor 146 provided on the stationary part supportingsubstrate 86, as shown in FIG. 19. The detector 145 and thephotointerruptor 146 are provided in association with each of thecartridge container sections 35 which is not in the initial position.The particular cartridge container section 35 is selected by thedetector 145 counting the number of the photointerruptors 146 traversedby the detector. The address associated with each cartridge containersection 35 is designated and the cartridge container section 35 havingthe specified address is specified by the detector 145 passing by thephotointerruptors 146 a number of times equal to the numbercorresponding to the specified address. The rotation supportingsubstrate 85 is rotated in the clockwise direction as indicated by anarrow K in FIG. 18 until detection of the cartridge container section 35having the selected address for shifting the disc rotation drivingmechanism 82 and the optical pickup 83 to the position of facing thecartridge container section 35 bearing the selected address.

A plurality of rolls 148 are mounted on the outer periphery of therotationsupporting substrate 85 via plural supporting bent pieces, asshown in FIG.17. The purpose of providing these rolls 148 is to assuresmooth rotation of the rotation supporting substrate 85 on thestationary part supporting substrate 86.

The driving part supporting substrate lift mechanism 88, adapted forlifting the driving part supporting substrate 84 for loading the opticaldisc 5 or 25 on the disc rotationally driving mechanism 82 andapproachingthe optical pickup 83 to the optical disc 5 or 25 afterrotating the rotation supporting substrate 85 for moving the discrotationally driving mechanism 82 and the optical pickup 83 to aposition of facing the disc cartridge 1 or 21 contained in the desiredcartridge container section 35,is hereinafter explained.

The driving part supporting substrate lift mechanism 88 is mainlycomposed of a second driving motor 151 arranged on the rotationsupporting substrate 85, a cam gear 152 rotationally driven by thesecond driving motor 151, a lift lever 153 rotationally driven inrotation by the rotation of the cam gear 152, and a lift block 154mounted at the distal end of the lift lever 153.

The cam gear 152 is rotatably carried by a supporting shaft 155 set onthe rotation supporting substrate 85. A gear part 156 is formed on theouter perimeter on the proximal side of the cam gear 152. The cam gearis run inrotation by the second driving motor 151 by the gear part 156meshing with a first gear 157 of a drive transmission gearing 156adapted for transmission of the rotationally driving force of the seconddriving motor151. The second driving motor 151 is connected to thetransmission gearing 156 by engaging a worm gear 158 mounted on adriving shaft of the second driving motor 151 with a helical gear 159 ofthe transmission gearing 156.

The lift lever 153 has its proximal side bent pivot section carried by asupporting shaft 155 set on the rotation supporting substrate 85 and isadapted for being rotated about the supporting shaft 155 as the centerof rotation, as shown in FIG. 17. A pin engaging opening 161substantially rectangular in shape is formed at the proximal side of thelift lever 153.A lift lever actuating pin 162 offset relative to thecenter of rotation ofthe cam gear 152 is engaged in the pin engagingopening 161, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 20. At the opposite distal end ofthe lift lever 153 is mounted the lift block 154 extended towards thedistal side of the drive part supporting substrate 84 which is liftablysupported by the rotation supporting substrate 85 and which is adaptedfor lifting the driving part supporting substrate 84 by the rotation ofthe lift lever 153. The lift block 154 has a first inclined cam 165 forhaving a sliding contact with alift pin 164 provided at the distal endof the driving part supporting substrate 84 and a second inclined cam167 for having sliding contact witha lift guide pin 166 provided at thedistal end of the driving part supporting substrate 84, as shown in FIG.21. The second inclined cam 167 is formed on the back side of the liftblock 154 opposite to the first inclined cam 165. The lift block 154 hasan engagement groove 168 in whicha locking pin 163 provided on thedistal end of the driving part supportingsubstrate 84 in opposition tothe lift guide pin 166 is engaged for maintaining the driving partsupporting substrate 84 at an elevated position when the driving partsupporting substrate 84 is moved to its elevated position.

Meanwhile, the lift pin 164 is mounted for depending from the distal endofa spring plate 170 for being abutted against the first inclined cam165 of the lift block 154. The spring plate 170 is protruded from aU-shaped cut-out 169 faced by the lift block 154 formed at the distalend of the driving part supporting substrate 84. That is, the springplate 170 is mounted via a supporting shaft 170a on the distal end ofthe driving part supporting substrate 84 and is rotatably biased by atorsion coil spring 270b in a direction away from the lift block 154.The lift guide pin 166 is protruded from the lateral side of theU-shaped cut-out lee in a direction parallel to the plane of the drivingpart supporting substrate 84 into abutment with the second inclined cam167. The lock pin 163 is protruded from the lateral side of the U-shapedcut-out 169 in a directionparallel to the plane of the driving partsupporting substrate 84 into abutment with the lift block 154.

The lift lever 153 is rotationally biased at all times in the directionshown by an arrow L in FIG. 17 by a torsion coil spring 171 which iswoundabout the supporting shaft 155 and which has its one end retainedby the driving part supporting substrate 84 and its other end by thelift lever 153. That is, the lift block 154 is rotationally biased in adirection away from the lift pin 164.

On the lift lever 153 is mounted a limiting plate 172 so that its oneend is adapted for facing the pin engaging opening 161 engaged by thelift lever actuating pin 162 mounted on the cam gear 152. The limitingplate 172 is adapted for limiting excess rotation of the lift leveractuating pin 162 and has its one end carried by a supporting shaft 172aset on the lift lever 153 so as to be rotated about the supporting shaft172a as the center of rotation, as shown in FIGS. 22 and 23. Thelimiting plate 172 isrotationally biased in a direction shown by anarrow M in FIG. 22, that is in a direction in which one end of thelimiting plate 172 will face the inside of the pin engagement opening161, by a torsion coil spring 173, which is coiled around the supportingshaft 172a and which has its one endretained by the lift lever 153 andits other end retained by the limiting plate 172. Meanwhile, thelimiting plate 172 has its rotational bias position by the torsion coilspring 173 by having its distal end retained by a retainer 174 formed onthe lift lever 153.

The cam gear 152 adapted for rotating the lift lever 153 is associatedwitha switch operating lever 176 adapted for actuating a changeoverswitch 175 adapted in turn for controlling the driving of the seconddriving motor 151 causing the rotation of the cam gear 152, as shown inFIG. 20. The switch operating lever 176 is rotatably mounted forrotation about a supporting pin 177 as the center of rotation by havingits proximal end carried by a supporting shaft 177 set on the rotationsupporting substrate85. The switch operating lever 176 is rotationallybiased in the direction shown by an arrow N in FIG. 20 by a tensionspring 178 mounted under tension between the lever 176 and the rotationsupporting substrate 85, and has its mid part abutted against a switchcontrol cam 179 formed on the gear part 156 of the cam gear 156. Aswitch actuator 180 at the distalend of the switch operating lever 176is adapted for facing an operator 181of the changeover switch 175mounted on the rotation supporting substrate 85.

By the rotation of the cam gear 152, the switch operating lever 176 isthrust by the switch control cam 179 so as to be rotated in thedirection opposite to that shown by the arrow N in FIG. 20 against thebias of the tension spring 178, whereby the switch actuator 180 thruststhe operator 181 for changing over the changeover switch 175. The switchoperating lever 176 actuates the changeover switch 175 so that, afterthe cam gear 152 is rotated by the second driving motor 151 for liftingthe driving part supporting substrate 84, the switch operating lever 176is rotated bybeing thrust by the switch control cam 179 of the cam gear152 for halting the second driving motor 151.

Besides, the cam gear 152 is associated with a rotation supportingsubstrate lock lever 185 which, when the rotation supporting substrate85 is rotated by the first driving motor 136 for shifting the discrotationally driving mechanism 82 and the optical pickup 83 to aposition of facing the desired one of the disc cartridges 1 or 21contained in the cartridge container sections 35, causes the rotationsupporting substrate 85 to be locked by the stationary supportingsubstrate 86. The rotation supporting substrate lock lever 185 has anengagement recess 187 engaged with a locking pin 186 set on thestationary supporting substrate 86 on its one side, while having a camabutment section 189 abutted against a lock lever actuating cam 188formed on the cam gear 152 on its other side.The rotation supportingsubstrate lock lever 185 has its U-shaped pivot section 190 formed atone intermediate portion carried by a supporting shaft 191 set on therotation supporting substrate 85 so as to be rotated about thesupporting shaft 191 as the center of rotation. The rotation supportingsubstrate lock lever 185 is rotationally biased in a direction shown byan arrow O in FIG. 20 in which the engagement recess 187 is engaged bythe lock pin 186 by a torsion coil spring 192 which is coiled around thesupporting shaft 191 and which has its one end retained by the rotationsupporting substrate 85 and its other end retained by the rotationsupporting substrate lock lever 185. When the disc rotation drivingmechanism 82 and the optical pickup 83 not reproducing the opticaldisc 5or 25 is at the lower position of being spaced apart from the disccartridge 1 or 21 contained in the desired cartridge container section35,the rotation supporting substrate lock lever 185 is placed at aposition inwhich the cam abutment section 189 is thrust by the locklever actuating cam 188, so that the rotation supporting substrate locklever 185 is rotated against the bias of the torsion coil spring 192 forseparating theengagement recess 187 away from the lock pin 186. That is,the rotation supporting substrate lock lever 185 renders the rotationsupporting substrate 85 rotatable. When the disc rotation drivingmechanism 82 and the optical pickup 83 face the desired disc cartridge 1or 21 contained inthe cartridge container section 35, and the cam gear152 starts to be rotated for shifting the disc rotation drivingmechanism 82 and the optical pickup 83 towards the disc cartridge 1 or21, the state of thrusting actuation of the cam abutment section 189 bythe lock lever operating cam 188 is released. The rotation supportingsubstrate lock lever 185 is rotated under the bias of the torsion coilspring 192 for engaging the engagement recess 187 with the lock pin 186for positioning and locking the rotation supporting substrate 85.

The cam gear 152 is associated with a thrusting member actuating lever197 adapted for actuating a disc cartridge container thrusting member195 adapted in turn for thrustingly supporting the disc cartridgecontainer 30against the disc cartridge container holder 81 forpreventing the shaking of the disc cartridge container 30 when the discrotationally driving mechanism 82 and the optical pickup 83 are moved toa position proximate to the desired disc cartridge 1 or 21 contained inthe cartridge containersection 35 to enable replay of the optical disc 5or 25 contained in the disc cartridge 1 or 21. The thrusting memberactuating lever 197 has elongated openings 199, 199 engaged by a pair ofslide guide pins 198, 198set on the upper side of the rotationsupporting substrate 85 so that the lever may be slid within the extentof these elongated openings 199, 199, while the lever is also biased bya tension spring 200 in the direction shown by an arrow P in FIG. 24, asshown in FIG. 12. Besides, the thrusting member actuating lever 197 hasan engaging pin 201 at its one end. The thrusting member actuating lever197 has an engaging pin 201 protruded at one end. The engaging pin isprotruded towards the cam gear 152 via a through-hole 202 formed in therotation supporting substrate 85 so as to be engaged in a cam groove,not shown, formed in the end face of the cam gear 152. By the rotationof the cam gear 152, the thrusting member actuating lever 197 is slidagainst the bias of the tension spring 200 by the engaging pin 201 beingmoved along a cam groove formed in the end face of the cam gear 152.

On the other hand, the disc cartridge container thrusting member 195 isformed by a resiliently deflectable spring plate and, as shown in FIG.24,is stacked and pressed onto the thrusting member actuating lever 197in a crossed shape. The disc cartridge container thrusting member 195has its proximal side secured to the rotation supporting substrate 85.The portionof the disc cartridge container thrusting member 195overlapped with the thrusting member actuating lever 197 has a pair ofbosses 205, 205 protruded towards the thrusting member actuating lever197. Besides, the disc cartridge container thrusting member 195 has atits distal end a container thrusting section 206 for thrustinglysupporting the disc cartridge holder 30. When the disc rotation drivingmechanism 82 and the optical pickup 83 are not approached towards thedisc cartridge 1 or 21, the disc cartridge container thrusting member195 is displaced to a position in which the bosses 205, 205 are engagedin engagement openings 207, 207 formed in the thrusting member actuatinglever 197, with the container thrusting section 206 being detached awayfrom the disc cartridge container 30. When the cam gear 152 causes thedisc rotation driving mechanism 82 and the optical pickup 83 in thedirection of approaching the disc cartridge 1 or 21 for slidingthrusting member actuating lever 197 against the bias of the tensionspring 200, the bosses205, 205 are disengaged from the engagementopenings 207, 207 to ride on the thrusting member actuating lever 197.When the bosses 205, 205 ride onthe thrusting member actuating lever197, the disc cartridge container thrusting member 195 is resilientlydeflected in a direction in which the container thrusting section 206approaches the disc cartridge holder 30 for thrusting the bottom of thedisc cartridge container 30 by the container thrusting member 206, asshown in FIG. 25.

Besides, the thrusting member actuating lever 197 is associated withlock arm rotating levers 211, 211 which, when the disc rotationallydriving mechanism 82 and the optical pickup 83 are moved to a positionof approaching the desired disc cartridge 1 or 21 contained in the disccartridge container 30 to enable replay of the optical disc 5 or 25contained in the disc cartridge 1 or 21, causes the rotation of a pairof lock arms 210, 210 to cause the locking of the rotation supportingsubstrate 85 by the stationary part supporting substrate 86.

The lock arms 210, 210 are pivotally mounted on supporting shafts 212,212 set on the rotation supporting substrate 85 so as to be rotatedabout these supporting shafts 212, 212 as the center of rotation. Theselock arms 210, 210 are connected to the distal ends of the lock armrotating levers 211, 211, as shown in FIG. 26. These lock arm rotatinglevers 211, 211 are pivotally mounted on supporting shafts 213, 213 seton the rotation supporting substrate 85 so that the lock arms will berotated about these supporting shafts 212, 212 as the center ofrotation. The distal ends of these lock arm rotating levers 211, 211 areconnected together by a pivot pin 214 so as to be swung open or closedabout the pivot pin as center. The lock arm rotating levers 211, 211 arerotationally biased in the opening direction shown by an arrow Q in FIG.26 by a tension spring 216 mounted between one of the arms 211, 211 andthe rotation supporting substrate 85. By the lock arm rotating levers211,211 rotationally biased in this manner, the lock arms 210, 210 arerotationally biased in the direction of being captured from the outsideofthe rotation supporting substrate 85 so as to be disengaged fromretention pieces 217, 217 formed on the outer periphery of the rotationsupporting substrate 85.

On the other hand, the lock arm rotating levers 211, 211 rotationallybiased by the tension spring 216 are pivotally supported by thethrusting member actuating lever 197 via a fulcrum pin 218 set on theother of the levers 211, 211 and are intruded towards the thrustingmember actuating lever 197 via a through-hole formed in the rotationsupporting substrate 85.

When the thrusting member actuating lever 197 is in its initial positionunder the bias of the tension spring 200, the lock arm rotating levers211, 211 are rotationally biased by the tension spring 216 in theopening direction shown by the arrow Q in FIG. 26 for capturing the lockarms 210,210 into the inside of the rotation supporting substrate 85.

The operation since the loading of the disc cartridge container 30containing the disc cartridge 1 or 21 in each cartridge containersection 35 thereof on the disc cartridge container holder 81 of the discreproducing apparatus until replay of the optical disc 5 or 25 containedin the disc cartridge 1 or 21 is explained.

When the disc cartridge container 30 is loaded on the disc cartridgecontainer holder 81, a start switch, not shown, is actuated by the disccartridge container 30 for starting the first driving motor 136 forrotating the rotation supporting substrate 85 in the counterclockwisedirection indicated by the arrow J in FIG. 19 until a switch actuatingpiece 143 thrusts and actuates an initial position setting switch 142.Thedrive force of the first driving motor 136 is transmitted at thistime to the gear part 139 of the stationary part supporting substrate 86via the transmission gearing 141 and the intermediate gear 140 so thatthe rotation supporting substrate 85 carrying the first driving motor136 is rotated relative to the stationary part supporting substrate 86about the rotation supporting shaft 133 as the center of rotation.

When the initial position setting switch 142 is thrust and actuated bythe switch actuating piece 143, the first driving motor 136 is haltedfor halting the disc rotation driving mechanism 82 and the opticalpickup 83 at the initial position of facing the designated cartridgecontainer section 35.

On actuation of a selection switch for selecting the cartridge containersection 35 in the disc cartridge container 30 bearing the desiredaddress,the first driving motor 136 is started for rotating the rotationsupportingsubstrate 85 in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrowK in FIG. 18. With the rotation of the rotation supporting substrate 85,the detectors 145 provided on the outer periphery of the rotationsupporting substrate 85 traverse the photointerruptors 146 provided onthe stationarypart supporting substrate 86. The number of times thedetectors 145 traverse the photointerruptors 146 is counted and, whenthe position is reached in which the disc rotation driving mechanism 82and the optical pickup 83 face the cartridge container section 35positioned at the selected address, the first driving motor 136 ishalted for halting the rotation of the rotation supporting substrate 85.

When the disc rotation driving mechanism 82 and the optical pickup 83face the cartridge container 35 positioned at the selected address, thesecond driving motor 151 for the driving part supporting substrate liftmechanism88 is started. When the second driving motor 151 starts itsoperation, the rotation driving power of the motor 151 is transmittedvia the transmission gearing 156 to the cam gear 152 for rotating thecam gear 152in the direction shown by an arrow R in FIG. 27. When thecam gear 152 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow R in FIG.27, the lift lever actuating pin 162 mounted on the cam gear 152 causesthe lift lever 153 tobe engaged in the pin engagement opening 161 in thedirection shown by an arrow S in FIG. 17. That is, the lift leveractuating pin 162 causes the rotation of the lift lever 153 in thedirection shown by the arrow S in FIG. 17, as the pin 162 thrusts thepin engagement opening 162.

As the lift lever 153 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow Sin FIG. 17, the lift pin 164 and the lift guide pin 166 mounted on thedistalend of the driving part supporting substrate 84 are moved abovethe first inclined cam 165 and the second inclined cam 167, while havingsliding contact with the cams 165 and 167, as shown in FIG. 21.

On the other hand, when the cam gear 152 is rotated in the directionshown by the arrow R in FIG. 27, the rotation supporting substrate locklever 185, having the cam abutment section 189 abutted against the locklever actuating cam 188 provided on the cam gear 152, is rotated in thedirection shown by an arrow T in FIG. 27 under the bias of the torsioncoil spring 192. In the present embodiment, when the cam gear 152 isrotated 60° in the direction shown by the arrow R in FIG. 27, theengagement recess 187 formed in one end of the rotation supportingsubstrate lock lever 185 is engaged with the lock pin 186 provided onthe stationary part supporting substrate 86, as shown in FIG. 28, forlocking the rotation supporting substrate 85 relative to the stationarypart supporting substrate 86. With the rotation supporting substratelock lever185 thus locked by the lock pin 186, the rotation supportingsubstrate locklever 185 is correctly positioned for facing the discrotation driving mechanism 82 and the optical pickup 83 to the cartridgecontainer 35 positioned at the selected address.

If, after the cam gear 152 is rotated further in the direction shown bythearrow R in FIG. 28, after the rotation supporting substrate 85 islocked relative to the stationary part supporting substrate 86, the liftlever 153 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow D in FIG. 28.The lift pin 164 and the lift guide pin 166 provided on the distal endof the driving part supporting substrate 84 are moved further above theinclined cams 165 and 167 while having sliding contact with the inclinedcams 165 and 167. When the cam gear 152 is rotated substantially 160° inthedirection shown by the arrow R in FIG. 29, the lift pin 164 reaches ahorizontal section 165a on the upper surface of the first inclined cam165, with the lift guide pin 166 being engaged in the engagement groove168 formed on the upper surface of the second inclined cam 167. As aresult thereof, the driving part supporting substrate 84 is raisedtowardsthe disc cartridge container 30 loaded on the disc cartridgecontainer holder 81 about the spring plate 135, acting as a hinge.

On the other hand, if the lift lever 153 is rotated in the directionshown by the arrow S in FIG. 29, until the driving part supportingsubstrate 84 is moved to its raised position, a retention piece 220formed by bending the distal end of the lift lever 153 carrying the liftblock 154 of the lift lever 153 is intruded towards the lower side of alift lever thrusting and supporting spring 221 mounted on the stationarypart supporting substrate 86. That is, the retention piece 220 isthrustingly supported on the stationary part supporting substrate 86 bythe lift leverthrusting and supporting spring 221, as shown in FIG. 30,for non-rotatablysupporting the lift lever 153. With the lift lever 153being non-rotatably supported in this manner, the driving partsupporting substrate 84 is positively kept in its raised position by thelift block 154.

When the cam gear 152 is rotated until the driving part supportingsubstrate 84 has been moved to its raised position, the thrusting memberactuating lever 197 is slid by the cam gear 152 against the bias of thetension spring 200. By the thrusting member actuating lever 197 slid inthis manner, the disc cartridge container thrusting member 195 isresiliently deflected for approaching the end boss 206 to the disccartridge container 30 for supporting the bottom of the disc cartridgecontainer 30 by the end boss 206, as shown in FIG. 25. The disccartridge container 30 is thrustingly supported by the disc cartridgecontainer holder 81 to prevent unwanted container movements in theholder 81.

Besides, as the thrusting member actuating lever 197 is slid, the lockarms210, 210 are protruded outwardly of the rotation supportingsubstrate 85 into engagement with the retention pieces 217, 217 formedon the outer periphery of the stationary supporting substrate 86 forlocking the rotation supporting substrate 85 relative to the stationarysupporting substrate 86 for inhibiting inadvertent rotation of therotation supporting substrate 85 during replay of the optical disc 5 or25.

When the lift lever 153 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow SinFIG. 29 until the driving part supporting substrate 84 has been movedto its raised position, the second driving motor 151 for rotationallydrivingthe cam gear 152 is halted. That is, when the cam gear 152 isrotated through substantially 160°, the switch operating lever 176 isthrustingly actuated by the switch control cam 179 provided on the camgear 152 and thereby rotated against the bias of the tension spring 178inthe direction shown by the arrow T in FIG. 28 by way of performing thechangeover operation of the changeover switch 175. The second drivingmotor 151 is halted to complete the lifting of the driving partsupportingsubstrate 84.

Meanwhile, when the driving part supporting substrate 84 is moved to itsraised position, a pair of positioning pins 222, 222 set on the drivingpart supporting substrate 84 are intruded via the cut-out opening 42 andthe cut-out 43 formed in the bottom wall 34 of the disc cartridgecontainer 30 into the cartridge container section 35 into engagement inthe positioning pin engagement openings 19, 20 of the disc cartridge 1or 21 contained in the cartridge container section 35. Besides, a heightsetting pin 223 set on the driving part supporting substrate 84 supportsthe lower surface of the disc cartridge 1 or 21. The disc cartridge 1 or21 is now supported on the driving part supporting substrate 84 withpositioning along its height and in the horizontal direction. A disctable224 of the disc rotation driving mechanism 82 loaded on the drivingpart supporting substrate 84 is protruded via the opening 41 in thebottom wall34 of the disc cartridge container 30 into the inside of thecartridge container section 35 so as to be intruded into the disc tableinlet opening 6 of the disc cartridge 1 or 21 contained in the cartridgecontainer section 35. The optical disc 5 or 25 contained in the disccartridge 1 or 21 is chucked on the disc table 224 for rotation inunison with the disc table. An objective lens 225 of the optical pickup83 loadedon the driving part supporting substrate 84 is protruded viathe opening 41in the bottom wall 34 of the disc cartridge container 30to face the signalrecording area of the optical disc 5 or 25 inproximity thereto via the information signal recording/reproducingaperture 9 of the disc cartridge 1 contained in the cartridge containersection 35 or the information signal recording/reproducing aperture 23of the disc cartridge 21 in the cartridge container section 35.

When the optical disc 5 or 25 is chucked in this manner on the disctable 224 and the objective lens 225 of the optical pickup 83 is movedto a position proximate to the optical disc 5 or 25, the spindle motorof the disc rotationally driving mechanism 82 is started forrotationally drivingthe optical disc 5 or 25. With the rotation of theoptical disc 5 or 25, the optical pickup 83 is fed from the innertowards the outer sides of theoptical disc 5 or 25, by being guidedalong a pair of feed guides 227, 227 by a pickup feed motor 226, forreproducing information signals recorded on the optical disc 5 or 25.

When the replay of the optical disc 5 or 25 contained in the disccartridge1 or 21 contained in the cartridge container section 35 havingthe designated address comes to a close, the second driving motor 151 isagainstarted for rotating the cam gear 152 in the same direction as thatof raising the driving part supporting substrate 84. By such rotation ofthe cam gear 152, the lift lever 153 is rotated in the directionopposite to that shown by the arrow S in FIG. 29. The lift pin 164 andthe lift guide pin 166, provided on the distal end of the driving partsupporting substrate 84, are moved below the first inclined cam 165 andthe second inclined cam 167 of the lift block 154, while having slidingcontact with these cams. The driving part supporting substrate 84 ismoved downwards under the force of resilient restoration of the springplate 135. The rotation supporting substrate lock lever 185 is rotatedat this time against the bias of the torsion coil spring 192 fordisengaging the lock pin 186 from the engagement recess 187. Thethrusting member actuating lever 197 is also reset to its initialposition, under the bias of the tension spring 200, for releasing thethrusting support of the disc cartridge container 30 by the disccartridge container thrusting member 195 while releasing the locking ofthe stationary supporting substrate 86 by the lock arms 210, 210. Whenthe cam gear 152 is rotated substantially 350° in the direction shown bythe arrow R in FIG. 29, the changeover operation of the changeoverswitch 175 is again effectuated by the switch actuator 180 to halt thedriving of the second driving motor 151. This terminates the descent ofthe driving part supporting substrate 84 to permit the rotation of therotation supporting substrate 85 about the rotation supporting shaft 133as the center of rotation, as shown in FIG. 21.

When the descent of the driving part supporting substrate 84 iscompleted to enable the rotation of the rotation supporting substrate 85about the rotation supporting shaft 133 as the center of rotation, thefirst drivingmotor 136 is started for rotationally driving the rotationsupporting substrate 85 for shifting the disc rotationally drivingmechanism 82 and the optical pickup 83 to a position in register withthe cartridge container section 35 having the next designated address.The second driving motor 151 is then run for rotationally driving thecam gear 152 for lifting the driving part supporting substrate 84 asmentioned previously for reproducing the optical disc 5 or 25 containedin the disc cartridge 1 or 21 contained in the cartridge containersection 35 having the next designated address. By the repetition of thereplay operations ofthe optical disc 5 or 25, the optical disc 5 or 25contained in the disc cartridge 1 or 21 contained in the disc cartridgecontainer 30 may be reproduced sequentially.

In the above-described embodiment, the driving part supporting substrate84is lifted by rotating the cam gear 152 in one direction. It is howeverpossible to modify the cam formed in the cam gear 152 so that thedriving part supporting substrate 84 may be lifted by hi-directionalrotation through 180° of the cam gear 152.

Meanwhile, the electronic circuit, such as a control circuit forcontrolling the driving of the first and second driving motors 136, 151provided on the rotation supporting substrate 85 and the electroniccircuit, such as a signal processing circuit provided on the stationarypart supporting substrate 86, are interconnected by a flexible wiringboard 230, as shown in FIG. 31. By employing the flexible wiringsubstrate230, it becomes possible to exchange a large amount of signalsbetween the electronic circuit provided on the rotation supportingsubstrate 85 and the electronic circuit provided on the stationary partsupporting substrate 85.

The flexible printed board 230 is drawn from the lower side to the upperside of the stationary part supporting substrate 86 by having a midportion of a stationary side extension 231 drawn out from the electroniccircuit provided on the stationary part supporting substrate 86 passedthrough a through-hole 232 formed in the gear plate 138 mountedintegrallyon the pivot section 137. Meanwhile, a board thrusting piece233 is provided in the through-hole 232 for thrusting the extension 231against the stationary part supporting substrate 86. A part of thestationary sideextension 231 drawn out above the upper surface of thestationary part supporting substrate 86 of the flexible printed board230 is extended along the rotation supporting shaft 133 set on the midpart of the rotation supporting substrate 85. A rotation side extension235 is drawn out from the end of the stationary side extension 231 forextending in a crossed manner relative to the stationary side extension231. The rotationside extension 235 is connected to an electroniccircuit mounted on the rotation supporting substrate 85.

A part of the connecting portion of the rotation side extension 235 tothe stationary side extension 231 is designed as a coiled part 234coiled about 180° on the outer periphery of the rotation supportingshaft 133. A flexure control wall member 236 for the flexible printedboard 230 is provided on the rotation supporting substrate 85 forsurrounding the coiled part 234 closed on the outer periphery of therotation supporting shaft 133. The flexure control wall member 236 playsthe role of guiding the coiled part 234 to permit smooth flexing thereofwith rotation of the rotation supporting substrate 85 when the rotationsupporting substrate 85is rotated relative to the stationary partsupporting substrate 86 about the rotation supporting shaft 133 as thecenter of rotation and to preventthe flexible printed board 230 frombeing damaged due to repeated flexure.

In the above-described embodiment, the disc cartridge container 30 isthrustingly supported by the disc cartridge container holder 81 when thestate of replay of the optical disc 5 or 25 is reached. Alternatively,theoptical disc 5 or 25 which is contained in the disc cartridge 1 or 21and which is not reproduced may be directly thrustingly supported forpreventing shaking of the optical disc 5 or 25.

That is, a rotary plate 242 having plural optical disc thrusting members241 on its upper surface facing the disc cartridge container holder 81of the rotation supporting substrate 85 is mounted for rotation about apivot243, as shown in FIG. 32. On the other hand, a sector-shaped gear244 is provided which is rotationally driven by the cam gear 152rotationally driven by the second driving motor 151, and a second camgear 245 is mounted on the upper surface of the rotation supportingsubstrate 85 whichis rotated by meshing with the sector-shaped gear 244.An engagement pin 247 set on an end of a rotation actuating lever 245pivotally mounted via a pivot 246 on the lateral side of the rotaryplate 242 is engaged in a cam groove 242 formed on the major surface ofthe second cam gear 245. Thesecond cam gear 245 is rotated via thesector-shaped gear 244 by the rotation of the cam gear 152 for causingthe swinging movement of the rotation actuating lever 245. By suchswinging movement of the lever 245, the rotary plate 242 is rotatedabout the pivot 243 until the optical discthrusting members 241 are inregister with the optical disc 5 or 25 which is not used for replay. Adisc thrust end 241a formed by bending the distal end of the opticaldisc thrusting member 241 thrusts and supports the center of the opticaldisc 5 or 25 facing the disc table inlet opening6 of the disc cartridge1 or 21 for preventing the shaking of the optical disc 5 or 25.

In the above-described embodiments, explanation has been made of thedisc reproducing apparatus in which the information signals are recordedon theoptical disc 5 or 25 contained in the disc cartridge 1 or 21.However, the present invention may be applied to an apparatus in whichinformation may be recorded by employing the disc cartridge 1 containingthe optical disc 5 capable of re-recording the information signals. Insuch case, an external magnetic field head for applying an externalmagnetic field on the optical disc 5 is provided on the apparatus sideprovided with the optical pickup 83. Alternatively, the informationsignals may be recorded by the optical pickup 83 using the optical disc5 in which information signals may be recorded using only the lightbeam.

Besides, the disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus according tothe present invention may also be provided with a disc typediscriminating mechanism 251 which is operatively associated with thelifting movement ofthe driving part supporting substrate 84 forapproaching the disc cartridge1 or 21 contained in each cartridgecontainer section 35 of the disc cartridge container 30 fordiscriminating the type of the disc cartridge 1or 21.

The disc type discriminating mechanism 251 has a detection switch 252mounted on the stationary part supporting substrate 86 in associationwithdisc type discriminating openings 3a, 3b and 3c provided on thelower half 3 of each disc cartridge 1 or 21 contained in each cartridgecontainer section 35 of the disc cartridge container 30. The detectionswitch 252 ismounted on a rotation supporting plate 255 rotated about arotation supporting shaft 254 mounted on a supporting piece 253 formedby partiallyfolding the stationary part supporting substrate 86. Therotation supporting plate 255 is rotationally biased towards thestationary part supporting substrate 86 by a torsion coil spring 256which is coiled around the rotation supporting shaft 254 and which hasits one end retained by the stationary part supporting substrate 86 andits other end retained by the rotation supporting plate 255. An abutmentpiece 258 abutted against a rotation actuator 257 protuberantly formedon the distalside of the driving part supporting substrate 84 isprotuberantly formed onone end of the rotation supporting plate 255.

With the above-described disc type discriminating mechanism 251, whenthe driving part supporting substrate 84 is lifted in its rotationalmovement by the operation of the driving part supporting substrate liftmechanism 88, the rotation actuating piece 257 is caused to bear againstthe abutment piece 258. When the driving part supporting substrate 84 israised further in its rotational movement, the rotation supporting plate255 is rotated against the bias of the torsion coil spring 256 about therotation supporting shaft 254 as the center of rotation. By suchrotation of the rotation supporting plate 255, the detection switch 252is pressed against the disc type discriminating openings 3a to 3c of thedisc cartridge 1 or 21, as shown in FIG. 34, for discriminating the typeof thedisc cartridge 1 or 21 depending on the thrusting state of thedetection switch 252 by the disc type discriminating openings 3a to 3c.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

With the disc cartridge container according to the present invention, anumber of disc cartridges may be contained therein so that the majorsurfaces of the discs contained in the cartridge main member are arrayedin one and the same plane and the disc cartridges may be containedwithoutbeing stacked vertically.

Besides, with the disc cartridge container according to the presentinvention, the indicating section for indicating the recording contentsorthe like provided on the surface of the disc cartridges contained inthe cartridge container sections may be checked visually from outside.

With the disc cartridge container according to the present invention,the shutter member provided on the disc cartridge may be opened orclosed after housing the disc cartridge in the cartridge containersection for reliably protecting the disc contained in the disccartridge.

With the disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to thepresent invention, the shutter member provided on the disc cartridgecontained in the disc container section is adapted for being opened andclosed in association with the insertion into and detachment from theapparatus for assuring reliable protection of the disc contained in thedisc cartridge.

With the disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to thepresent invention, the information signal may be sequentially recordedon or reproduced from the discs contained in plural disc cartridgesusing oneand the same recording and/or reproducing apparatus.

With the disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to thepresent invention, the disc cartridges are employed which are capable ofcontaining plural disc cartridges without stacking for simplifying andreducing the size and the thickness of the disc recording and/orreproducing apparatus itself.

In addition, with the disc recording and/or reproducing apparatusaccordingto the present invention, the operation of approaching orseparating the disc rotation driving mechanism and the informationsignal readout mechanism with respect to the disc as well as themaintenance of the disc rotationally driving mechanism and theinformation readout mechanism may be realized using only a single cammember for realization of positive operation of the movement andpositioning means for the disc rotation driving mechanism and theinformation signal readout means and simplifyingthe overall structure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A disc cartridge container having pluralcartridge container sections each containing a disc cartridge consistingof a disc and a cartridge main member containing said disc,saidcartridge container sections being arranged so that the disc cartridgesare arrayed therein in a matrix array with the planar sides thereoffacing the major surfaces of the discs all lying in a same plane,wherein each of said cartridge container sections comprises shutteropening/closing means for opening a shutter member mounted on each saiddisc cartridge simultaneously, said shutter opening/closing means alsoclosing said shutter member in each said disc cartridge, said shuttermember being adapted for opening and closing a recording/reproducingaperture provided in said cartridge main member, saidrecording/reproducing aperture exposing a part of the disc contained insaid cartridge main member.
 2. The disc cartridge container as claimedin claim 1 wherein each of said cartridge container sectionscomprises:an opening for exposing said recording/reproducing aperture;an aperture for a disc drive table; a disc inlet opening for receivingsaid disc cartridge; and a cut-out for exposing a positioning pinengagement opening formed in said cartridge main member.
 3. The disccartridge container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cartridgecontainer section is formed of a light-transmitting synthetic resin topermit the disc cartridge contained in the cartridge container sectionto be seen from outside.
 4. The disc cartridge container as claimed inclaim 1 wherein as disc cartridge inserting/detachment opening is formedin one lateral surface of said cartridge container section, andwhereinan opening side end of an upper wall surface and a lower wallsurface of the cartridge container section facing each other andtogether constituting the cartridge insertion/detachment opening eachhaving a notch formed therein.
 5. The disc cartridge container asclaimed in claim 1 wherein said shutter opening/closing meanscomprises:a shutter opening actuating member mounted facing a front endface along which the shutter member of the disc cartridge contained insaid cartridge container section is moved; a shutter closing actuatingmember arranged in a side-by-side relation with respect to said shutteropening actuating member; a rotation actuating plate mounted inassociation with each cartridge container section for moving saidshutter opening actuating member and said shutter closing actuatingmember arranged as a pair, and a rotation actuating gear meshing with agear part formed on a periphery of said rotation actuating plate forrotating said rotation actuating plate.
 6. The disc cartridge containeras claimed in claim 5 comprising:a cover plate for covering saidrotation actuating plate and said rotation actuating gear; and a cut-outgroove formed in one side of said cover plate for receiving a rotationactuating member rotating said rotational actuating gear upon insertingsaid disc cartridge container into a disc recording and/or reproducingapparatus.
 7. The disc cartridge container as claimed in claim 5 whereina plurality of cam grooves are formed in said rotation actuating platein association with said cartridge container sections, a pair of theshutter opening actuating member and the shutter closing actuatingmember are engaged in each cam groove, and wherein the pair of theshutter opening member and the shutter closing member are simultaneouslymoved by the rotation of the rotation actuating plate.
 8. The disccartridge container as claimed in claim 1 wherein a transparent windowfor exposing to outside a label mounted on a planar surface of the disccartridge contained in each cartridge container section is formed ineach cartridge container section.
 9. A disc recording and/or reproducingapparatus comprising:a container main member formed of a plurality ofcartridge container sections each containing a disc cartridge consistingof a disc and a cartridge main member containing said disc, saidcartridge container sections being arranged so that the disc cartridgesare arrayed with the planar sides thereof facing the major surfaces ofthe disc all lying in a same plane; each cartridge container sectionhaving a shutter opening actuating member mounted facing a front endface of the disc cartridge along which a shutter member of the disccartridge contained in said cartridge container section is moved; eachcartridge container section having a shutter closing actuating memberarranged in a side-by-side relation with respect to said shutter openingactuating member; a rotation actuating plate mounted in association witheach cartridge container section for moving said shutter opening memberand said shutter closing member arranged as a pair; and a rotationactuating gear meshing with a gear part formed on a periphery of saidrotation actuating plate for rotating said rotation actuating plate, anda disc cartridge container holder in which said container main member isinserted and held and which is provided with a rack gear meshing withsaid rotation actuating gear in association with insertion anddetachment of said disc cartridge container, said rotation actuatingplate being rotated by rotation of said rotation actuating gear whereinsaid shutter members of said disc cartridges contained in said pluralityof cartridge container sections are opened and closed simultaneously.10. The disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim9 wherein a cut-out is formed in said rotation actuating plate to permitresilient deflection of an end part of a gear part formed on the outerperiphery of said rotation actuating plate.
 11. The disc recordingand/or reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 9 comprising:anejection member adapted for being moved by the disc cartridge containerloaded on said disc cartridge container holder, said ejection memberbeing biased by biasing means for ejecting the disc cartridge containerout of said disc cartridge container holder; a locking plate moved byinsertion of said disc cartridge container into said disc cartridgecontainer holder and adapted for locking said ejection member moved to acartridge container loading position, said locking plate beingrotationally biased by biasing means; and an ejection lever rotatingsaid locking plate against the bias of said biasing means for unlockingsaid ejection member.
 12. The disc recording and/or reproducingapparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said disc cartridge holder hasholding means for holding the disc cartridge container inserted intosaid disc cartridge container holder in its loading position.
 13. Thedisc recording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 9wherein an opening end side of an upper side wall and a lower side wallfacing each other and constituting a cartridge inserting/detachmentopening of the disc cartridge container holder is receded towards thedisc cartridge inserting side, said opening side facing the disccartridge inserting/detachment opening of the disc cartridge containerholder.
 14. A disc cartridge recording and/or reproducing apparatuscomprising:a cartridge container having plural cartridge containersections each containing a disc cartridge consisting of a disc and acartridge main member containing said disc, said cartridges are arrayedwith the planar sides thereof facing the major surfaces of the discs alllying in a same plane and each of said cartridge container sectionsincluding shutter opening/closing means for opening a shutter membermounted on each said disc cartridge simultaneously and forsimultaneously closing each said shutter member; and a driving partsupporting substrate lift mechanism for lifting said driving partsupporting substrate for approaching said disc rotation drivingmechanism and said information signal recording and/or reproducing meanstowards and away from the disc cartridge contained in the disc cartridgecontainer section.
 15. The disc cartridge recording and/or reproducingapparatus as claimed in claim 14 comprising disc type discriminatingmeans for discriminating the type of the disc cartridge in associationwith the operation of said driving part supporting substrate liftmechanism adapted for lifting said information signal recording and/orreproducing means to or from the disc cartridge contained in saidcartridge container section.
 16. The disc cartridge recording and/orreproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 14 comprising a driving partsupporting substrate lock mechanism rotated in association with theoperation of the driving part supporting substrate lift mechanism forlocking the lift movement of said driving part supporting substrate at aposition in which the disc rotationally driving mechanism and theinformation signal recording and/or reproducing means are moved to alifted position near the disc cartridge in said cartridge containersection.
 17. A disc cartridge recording and/or reproducing apparatuscomprising:a cartridge container having plural cartridge containersections each containing a disc cartridge consisting of a disc and acartridge main member containing said disc, said cartridge containersections being arranged so that the disc cartridges are arrayed with theplanar sides thereof facing the major surfaces of the discs all lying ina same plane and each of said cartridge container sections includingshutter opening/closing means for opening a shutter member mounted oneach said disc cartridge simultaneously and for simultaneously closingeach shutter member; a rotation supporting substrate supporting adriving part support substrate carrying at least a disc rotation drivingmechanism and the information signal recording and/or reproducing meansadapted for being approached to and separated from the disc cartridgecontained in each cartridge container section of said disc cartridgecontainer; a stationary supporting substrate rotatably supporting saidrotation supporting substrate; rotation driving means rotationallydriving said rotation supporting substrate for moving said disc rotationdriving mechanism and the information signal recording and/orreproducing means loaded on said driving part supporting substrate to aposition facing one of the disc cartridges contained in the cartridgecontainer sections of the disc cartridge container; and a driving partsupporting substrate lift mechanism for lifting said driving partsupporting substrate for approaching said disc rotation drivingmechanism and said information signal recording and/or reproducing meanscarried by said driving part supporting substrate towards and away fromthe disc cartridge contained in the disc cartridge container section.18. The disc cartridge recording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimedin claim 17 comprising a lock mechanism for locking said driving partsupporting substrate lift mechanism when said driving part supportsubstrate carrying said disc rotation driving mechanism and saidinformation signal recording and/or reproducing means is moved to itsraised position.
 19. The disc cartridge recording and/or reproducingapparatus as claimed in claim 17 comprising a rotation supportingsubstrate lock mechanism for non-rotatably locking said rotationsupporting substrate relative to said stationary support substrate whensaid rotation supporting substrate is rotated so that said disc rotationdriving mechanism and said information signal recording and/orreproducing means carried by said driving part supporting substrate aremoved to a position facing one of the disc cartridges contained in thecartridge container sections of the disc cartridge container.
 20. Thedisc cartridge recording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimed inclaim 17 wherein said disc rotation driving mechanism carried on saiddriving part supporting substrate and a driving part supportingsubstrate lift mechanism for lifting said driving part supportingsubstrate and adapted for approaching and separating the informationsignal recording and/or reproducing means to or from the disc cartridgecontained in said cartridge container section are mounted on therotation supporting substrate.
 21. The disc cartridge recording and/orreproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein said rotationdriving mechanism comprises:a gear plate set on said stationary supportsubstrate and carrying a gear part on its outer periphery, said gearplate being mounted on a pivot rotatably supporting said rotationsupporting substrate; an intermediate gear rotatably carried by saidrotation supporting substrate, said intermediate gear meshing with thegear part of said gear plate; and a driving motor mounted on therotation supporting substrate adapted for rotating said intermediategear via a driving power transmission gearing.
 22. The disc cartridgerecording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 17 comprisingdisc cartridge thrusting and supporting means for pressing andsupporting the disc cartridge container onto the disc cartridgecontainer holder when the disc contained in one of the disc cartridgescontained in plural cartridge containers of the disc cartridge containeris enabled to be rotated by said disc rotation driving mechanism carriedby said driving part supporting substrate.
 23. The disc cartridgerecording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 17 comprisinga disc contained in disc cartridges other than one of the disccartridges contained in plural cartridge container sections of the disccartridge container is enabled to be rotated by said rotation drivingmechanism carried by said driving part supporting substrate.
 24. Thedisc cartridge recording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimed inclaim 17 further comprising a rotation supporting substrate lockmechanism for non-rotatably locking said rotation supporting substraterelative to said stationary part supporting substrate, wherein a discthrusting and supporting mechanism for thrusting and supporting a disccontained in a disc cartridge other than the disc cartridge containedthe disc rotatable by the disc rotationally and driving mechanism loadedon said driving part supporting substrate is actuated by a camrotationally driven by a driving motor.
 25. The disc cartridge recordingand/or reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein said camwhen rotated in one direction sequentially actuates said driving partsupporting substrate lift mechanism, rotation supporting substrate lockmechanism and said disc thrusting and supporting mechanism.
 26. The disccartridge recording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 24wherein said cam when rotated in two directions sequentially actuatessaid driving part supporting substrate lift mechanism, rotationsupporting substrate lock mechanism and said disc thrusting andsupporting mechanism.
 27. The disc cartridge recording and/orreproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 17 comprising:a flexiblewiring board for interconnecting an electronic circuit provided on saidstationary supporting substrate for rotatably supporting said rotationsupporting substrate and an electronic circuit provided on said rotationsupporting substrate; said flexible wiring board having at least a partcoiled around the outer periphery of a pivot rotatably supporting saidrotation supporting substrate with respect to said stationary partsupporting substrate, said coiled part being surrounded by a flexiblecontrol wall member adapted for being rotated in unison with saidrotation supporting substrate.